The Afghan government stated that a Pakistani airstrike destroyed a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, resulting in over 400 civilian deaths, while Pakistan denies the allegations and insists it did not target civilians on purpose.
On 17 March 2026, Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Government Spokesperson of Afghanistan, said Pakistan launched an airstrike on a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Monday night, causing at least 400 deaths and over 250 injuries.
Local television broadcast footage showing rescue workers using flashlights to search for survivors amid burning ruins, while firefighters tried to control the blaze and remove bodies. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. local time, targeting the 2,000-bed hospital and causing extensive damage to most of the building.
However, the Pakistani government denied these accusations, stating that the air operations took place in eastern Afghanistan and did not target civilian locations.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan government, strongly condemned the attack, accusing Pakistan of targeting the hospital and civilian areas to inflict cruelty, calling the act a violation of international principles and a crime against humanity.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated since late last month, with clashes along the border and multiple airstrikes. International calls for a ceasefire between the two sides have so far gone unanswered.
Source: BBC / Aljazeera