More than 100 people have been killed in an airstrike carried out by the Pakistani military on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, the BBC’s Russian Service reported on March 17, citing sources in a forensic laboratory.
Earlier, representatives of the Taliban, which currently holds power in Afghanistan, reported at least 400 dead and 250 injured.
According to staff at Kabul’s forensic department, some of the bodies are severely damaged, making identification difficult. The rehabilitation center was designed to accommodate around 2,000 patients, but the exact number of people inside at the time of the strike remains unknown. A significant part of the building has been destroyed.
Pakistan has rejected accusations of targeting a medical facility. The country’s Ministry of Information stated that the strikes were aimed at “military targets and infrastructure supporting terrorists” in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar and were “precise and carefully planned.”
The complex that was struck, along with the surrounding area, had previously been used as a U.S. military base. After coming to power, the Taliban repurposed part of the site into a drug rehabilitation center — an issue that remains particularly acute in the country, especially in the capital.
The United Nations has called for an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the strike and reminded all parties of the need to comply with international law and protect civilians.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been escalating since February, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, an allegation denied by Afghan authorities.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), at least 75 people have been killed and 193 injured in ongoing hostilities since February 26.
