Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
The Afghan Taliban government’s spokesperson reported that over 400 individuals lost their lives and 265 were injured in a Pakistan airstrike targeting a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul. This incident, the deadliest since hostilities between the nations began in October 2025, occurred at 9 p.m. Monday, according to the deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat.
Pakistan dismissed the claim as false and misleading, asserting that its strikes focused on “military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.” The information ministry highlighted that the Omid Hospital, described as a 2,000-bed facility, was not near the Camp Phoenix site, which it labeled a “terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site.”
“Secondary explosions after the strike clearly showed large ammunition depots were present,” said Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in a X post. Meanwhile, Kabul residents, including a Reuters journalist, noted that Camp Phoenix had been repurposed as a drug treatment center a decade ago, known locally as Omid Camp or “camp of hope.” They clarified that the Omid Hospital and Omid Camp were distinct entities.
China’s diplomatic intervention came shortly before the attack, with officials expressing readiness to resume efforts in easing tensions between the two nations. The conflict, which has escalated sharply, marks the most intense phase in the rivalry between these neighboring Islamic states, sharing a 2,600-kilometer border.
“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” recounted Ahmad, 50, a survivor who was undergoing treatment at the facility. “My friends were burning in the fire, and we could not save them all.” Witnesses reported hearing three bombs detonate during evening prayers, with two hitting rooms and patient areas.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qanie confirmed the casualty toll, stating that victims were transported to Kabul hospitals. However, he provided no specifics on how the numbers were calculated. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added that most of the deceased were civilians and addicts.
Reuters could not independently confirm the figures, as the reported casualties remain unverified. Both nations have accused each other of heavy damage, yet independent assessment has been challenging. The Norwegian Refugee Council, an independent aid group, described seeing “hundreds of civilians dead and injured” at the Kabul hospital.
UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, also reported multiple casualties and urged immediate de-escalation. Pakistan’s prime minister’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, defended the strikes, calling the Afghan claim of drug users being targeted “lies.” He emphasized that Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations would persist until “terrorists and their infrastructure” were eliminated.
Zaidi stated that six strikes were conducted on Monday night, including attacks on Camp Phoenix, which he claimed the Afghan Taliban used for “training terrorists and storing weapons.” He offered no casualty estimates, leaving the full impact of the strikes uncertain.