Kabul, March 17 — Hundreds of grieving families crowded outside a major hospital in Afghanistan’s capital on Monday night after a devastating air strike reduced much of the facility to rubble, killing at least 400 people and wounding around 250 others in one of the deadliest attacks Kabul has witnessed in recent years.
Afghan authorities have directly blamed Pakistan’s air force for the strike, which hit the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital — a 2,000-bed facility primarily serving patients battling drug dependency. The attack, which occurred at approximately 9pm local time, destroyed a significant portion of the building and left survivors scrambling through the debris.
“Many Were Killed Instantly”
Among those who made it out alive was Omid Stanikzai, a 31-year-old security guard who had been staying in a dormitory inside the hospital when the strike hit. He described scenes of immediate chaos and destruction, saying many of his colleagues were killed on the spot. He survived, but barely.
As news spread through the city, relatives of patients rushed to the site in desperation — some hoping to find survivors, others fearing the worst.
Kabul Calls It a “Crime Against Humanity”
Afghanistan’s government was swift and unambiguous in its condemnation. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described the strike as a direct violation of Afghan airspace and called it a “crime against humanity”, warning that such actions would not go without serious consequences.
Afghan officials also alleged that beyond the hospital, the strikes damaged key information technology infrastructure and ammunition storage centres across Kabul and Nangarhar province — suggesting a broader military operation was underway.
Pakistan Denies Targeting Civilians
Islamabad has pushed back firmly against the accusations. Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar stated that the country’s military targeted specific locations linked to terrorist activity, not civilian infrastructure. He claimed that 73 militants and associated facilities were successfully hit, and insisted that harming ordinary citizens was never the intention.
However, Afghan health ministry officials rejected that narrative, stating that no military infrastructure existed in the vicinity of the hospital and that the strike appeared aimed squarely at a civilian medical facility.
International Community Raises Alarm
The incident has sharply escalated an already volatile relationship between the two neighbouring countries. International observers and humanitarian organisations have raised urgent concerns over the growing cycle of cross-border strikes and the mounting civilian toll.
China has called for an immediate ceasefire, urging both sides to return to dialogue. India also issued a strong condemnation of the attack.
Afghan cricketers, including star spinner Rashid Khan, took to social media to denounce the strike, with Khan labelling it a “war crime” and calling on world leaders to intervene.
As rescue operations continue at the site, the death toll is feared to rise. Families are still waiting outside the ruins — searching, hoping, and mourning.
