Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim

Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim

An airstrike by Pakistan on Kabul’s drug rehabilitation center reportedly killed over 400 individuals and injured 265 others, according to a spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government. This incident marks the deadliest conflict since the two nations resumed hostilities in October of last year. Pakistan swiftly dismissed the claim as false and misleading, asserting that its strikes targeted military installations and terrorist support facilities.

Targeting Military Infrastructure

The Pakistani Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated on X that the airstrikes were aimed at “military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage sites,” emphasizing visible secondary explosions as proof of large depots. He clarified that the Omid Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility, was miles away from the targeted site, Camp Phoenix, which he described as a key location for militant operations.

Conflicting Narratives

Residents of Kabul, including a Reuters journalist, described Camp Phoenix as an abandoned NATO base repurposed into a drug treatment center a decade ago. Locals referred to it as “Omid Camp” or “camp of hope,” though its official name is “Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital.” They maintained that the Omid Hospital and Omid Camp were distinct, with the latter being struck during the attack. The Taliban’s deputy spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, confirmed the strike occurred at 9 p.m. Monday and targeted the state-run facility.

Fighting between the former allies escalated last month, with Pakistan launching airstrikes on Afghan Taliban strongholds. Islamabad alleges Kabul provides safe haven for militants attacking its borders, while the Taliban argue this is Pakistan’s internal issue. The conflict, spanning a 2,600-kilometer shared border, has seen both sides claim significant damage to the other’s forces.

Witness Accounts and Casualties

At the strike site, a single-story building was left blackened by flames, with surrounding structures reduced to rubble. Some bunk beds remained intact, and personal items were scattered amid the destruction. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie reported 408 deaths and 265 injuries, though specifics on casualty counts were not disclosed. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid added that the victims were primarily civilians and addicts.

“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” said Ahmad, a 50-year-old patient at the facility, using only his first name. “My friends were burning in the fire, and we could not save them all.”

China intervened, urging both nations to resume talks after the attack. The Norwegian Refugee Council, an independent aid group, reported seeing numerous casualties at the Kabul hospital, condemning the targeting of civilian infrastructure. The UNAMA also noted dozens of deaths and injuries, calling for immediate de-escalation.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, defended the operation, calling the Afghan Taliban’s claim “lies.” He stated that Pakistan would continue its counterterrorism efforts until “terrorists and their infrastructure” were eliminated. Zaidi mentioned six strikes conducted on Monday night, including attacks on Camp Phoenix, which he claimed was used by the Taliban to “train terrorists and store weapons.”