Ask Onix
Airstrike devastates Kabul drug treatment facility
An air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Afghanistan's capital on Monday evening left dozens dead and many more injured, according to Taliban officials. The attack reduced the facility to rubble, with witnesses reporting over 30 bodies recovered so far.
Casualty figures disputed
Taliban authorities claimed the death toll could reach hundreds, though these numbers remain unconfirmed. The Afghan health ministry's spokesperson, Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, told the BBC no military installations were near the centre. Rescuers continued searching for survivors into Tuesday morning, with debris scattered across the site.
Pakistan denies targeting civilians
Pakistan's government denied striking a health facility, stating its forces "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure" in Kabul and Nangarhar province. Islamabad dismissed Afghanistan's accusations as "misreporting of facts" aimed at concealing "illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism."
Escalating tensions between neighbours
The attack follows weeks of renewed hostilities, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of sheltering militants responsible for attacks on its soil-a claim Kabul denies. The United Nations reported at least 75 deaths and 193 injuries in Afghanistan from cross-border clashes since late February, despite an October ceasefire agreement.
International calls for restraint
China, which has mediated between the two nations, urged both sides to "remain calm and exercise restraint" and resume direct talks "as soon as possible." Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts last week, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire.
Facility's history and aftermath
The site, formerly a U.S. military base, was repurposed by the Taliban in 2021 as a rehabilitation centre for drug users forcibly relocated from Kabul. On Monday night, residents reported explosions and aircraft activity around 20:50 local time (16:20 GMT). Family members gathered outside the wreckage, searching for missing loved ones amid the chaos.
"The damage is catastrophic-blankets, shoes, and debris are everywhere," said a local resident who witnessed the aftermath.
