Air Strike Hits Kabul Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Dozens Feared Dead

Dozens are feared dead or injured after an air strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Taliban blamed Pakistan, which denied targeting the facility. Rescue teams are searching for survivors, and officials warn of hundreds of casualties. The attack highlights ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, despite a fragile ceasefire.

Dozens of people are feared dead or injured after a devastating air strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Monday evening. The Taliban government quickly blamed Pakistan for the attack, while Pakistan denied targeting any health facility, insisting that its strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangahar. The conflicting claims have heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries, which have experienced ongoing cross-border clashes since February.
According to officials at the rehabilitation centre, parts of the facility were still engulfed in flames when journalists and rescue teams arrived. Observers reported seeing more than 30 bodies being carried on stretchers. The centre, which was housing approximately 2,000 people at the time of the strike, is believed to have suffered potentially hundreds of casualties, raising fears of one of the deadliest attacks on such a facility in recent years. Afghan health ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail told the BBC that no military installations were located near the rehabilitation centre, contradicting claims that the area could have been a legitimate military target.
Residents across Kabul reported hearing loud explosions at around 20:50 local time (16:20 GMT), followed by the sounds of aircraft overhead and air defence systems being activated. Outside the centre, families of those undergoing treatment gathered in distress, desperate for information about their loved ones and the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for the Taliban government claimed the death toll had reached at least 400 people, though independent verification of this number has not been possible.
Pakistan’s information ministry defended the strikes, describing them as “precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted,” and dismissed Afghanistan’s allegations as “misreporting of facts… [that] seeks to stir sentiments, covering illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism.” The incident highlights the persistent mistrust and ongoing disputes between the two nations, even as diplomatic channels remain open.
The site of the attack holds historical and social significance. The area was formerly a US military base and had long been known as a gathering place for drug users. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they converted the facility into a drug rehabilitation centre, housing patients rounded up from across Kabul. The attack has therefore not only caused immense human loss but also disrupted efforts to treat and rehabilitate vulnerable populations struggling with substance abuse.
Rescue operations continued into Tuesday morning as officials searched for survivors amid the wreckage. Early reports and images from the scene showed flattened debris, charred buildings, blown-out windows, and personal belongings like blankets and shoes scattered across the ground, emphasizing the scale of the destruction and the challenges faced by first responders.
The strike comes amid a renewed cycle of conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fighting between the two countries, which resumed in February, has already killed at least 75 people and injured 193 in Afghanistan, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). These clashes persist despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October 2025, underscoring the volatility of the border region and the difficulty of maintaining long-term peace.
China has been involved in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking to Afghan and Pakistani counterparts in the past week. On Monday, Beijing issued a statement urging both countries to remain calm, exercise restraint, and engage in face-to-face dialogue, calling for a ceasefire “at the earliest opportunity.” The ongoing diplomatic efforts reflect broader regional concerns about the potential escalation of conflict and its humanitarian impact, particularly on vulnerable populations such as those in Kabul’s drug rehabilitation centre.