Airstrike on Kabul Rehab Centre Kills Hundreds, Pakistan Denies Targeting Hospital
Airstrike hit the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital at about 21:00 local time, killing roughly 400 to 408 people and injuring around 250 to 265; Pakistan denies targeting civilian sites.
PBS NewsHourRescue crews dig bodies from ruins of Kabul hospital hit by airstrike blamed on Pakistan
Al JazeeraPakistan denies hospital strike in Afghanistan as death toll hits 400
Breitbart NewsTaliban Claims 400 Killed in Pakistani Strike on Afghanistan Hospital
The American ConservativePakistani Strike on Kabul Kills Hundreds
Overview
Rescue crews recovered bodies after an airstrike hit the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul at about 21:00 local time, killing roughly 400 to 408 people and injuring around 250 to 265, officials said.
The strike is the deadliest single attack in a conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan that has escalated into its third week after repeated cross-border clashes and airstrikes.
Afghanistan's Taliban spokesmen condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity," the U.N. called for an independent investigation, and Pakistan's information minister strongly rejected the accusations, saying it targeted military sites.
At least 100 bodies were taken to the Kabul Forensic Medicine Department, the U.N. Security Council extended UNAMA for three months, and the World Food Programme mobilized food for more than 20,000 displaced families.
U.N. rights officials urged parties to de-escalate, exercise restraint and investigate the "tragic blast" promptly and transparently, and rescue operations and searches for victims were continuing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this as contested claims and largely remain neutral. They foreground Taliban casualty figures but clearly attribute them, include Pakistan's denial and UNAMA's legal framing, and add diplomatic context. Editorial choices favor attribution and competing voices, while quotes like 'martyrs' are source content.
FAQ
The Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital is a healthcare facility in Kabul dedicated to the treatment of drug-addicted individuals.
The airstrike occurred on March 16, 2026, at around 9pm local time in Kabul and was carried out by Pakistan military forces.
The airstrike killed roughly 400 to 408 people and injured around 250 to 265, according to officials.
Pakistan denies targeting civilian sites, with its information minister stating the strike targeted military sites.
The strike is part of an escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan into its third week, following repeated cross-border clashes and airstrikes.
