Islama, Mar 17: A major humanitarian tragedy has unfolded in Kabul after an airstrike struck a hospital treating drug addicts, with Afghan authorities claiming that more than 200 people were killed — a toll that some officials say could exceed 400.
According to Afghan officials, the strike targeted a large drug rehabilitation hospital in the city on March 16, destroying much of the facility and causing massive casualties. Many of those killed were reportedly patients undergoing treatment at the time.
Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman initially put the death toll at over 200, while later statements from Taliban officials suggested it may have risen to around 400, with hundreds more injured.
The Afghan government has blamed the attack on Pakistan’s military, calling it a violation of sovereignty and international law. However, Pakistan has strongly denied targeting any civilian infrastructure.
Pakistani officials said their strikes were aimed at militant hideouts and “terrorist support infrastructure” in Afghanistan, insisting that no hospital was deliberately hit.