Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government accused Pakistan of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul that killed more than 400 people, in what officials described as one of the deadliest incidents in a rapidly escalating conflict between the neighboring countries.
“The Pakistani military regime bombed a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation hospital called ‘Omid.’ Large parts of the hospital have been destroyed,” said deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.
“Unfortunately, the number of martyrs (dead) has so far reached 400 people, and up to 250 others have been injured.”
The Pakistani military regime carried out an airstrike at approximately 9:00 PM this evening on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility dedicated to the treatment of drug addiction. As a result of the attack, large sections of the hospital have been destroyed,…
— Hamdullah Fitratحمدالله فطرت (@FitratHamd) March 16, 2026
The attack occurred Monday night as residents broke their Ramadan fast. It came hours after both sides exchanged fire along their shared border, with Afghan officials reporting at least four deaths in earlier clashes.
#Pakistan Launches Airstrikes Targeting the #Omid Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital in PD-9, Kabul, #Afghanistan https://t.co/4go4Ia4bdQ pic.twitter.com/YhOZAyR88w
— TRACTerrorism (@TracTerrorism) March 17, 2026
Firtat said the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continued pulling bodies from the rubble.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians.
“We strongly condemn this crime and consider such an act to be against all accepted principles and a crime against humanity,” he said in a post on X.
innocent civilians and addicts who were mostly killed last night at the 2,000-bed hospital due to the bombing by (Pakistani military circles).
Indeed, we belong to God and to Him we shall return. pic.twitter.com/tk0ApZ9i3F— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 17, 2026
Pakistan denied Taliban’s allegations, saying its military did not target civilian infrastructure.
In a statement posted on X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure including technical equipment storage and ammunition storage of Afghan Taliban” as well as Afghan-based Pakistani militants.
🔎 Fact Check | Ministry of Information and Broadcastingl
Above claim of this discredited so called spokesperson of Taliban regime is another misreporting of facts aimed at misleading public opinion.
◼️On night 16 March, Pakistan precisely targeted military installations and… pic.twitter.com/tscodXatzH
— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) March 16, 2026
Pakistani officials said the targets were linked to attacks on civilians inside Pakistan.
International concern has grown as the conflict intensifies. China has urged both sides to avoid further escalation and return to negotiations, offering to help mediate between the two countries.
Despite calls for a ceasefire, neither side has indicated a willingness to de-escalate.
