Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul Hospital Kills Hundreds

A Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 16, 2026, resulted in the deaths of at least 400 people and injured approximately 250 others, according to Afghan officials. The attack has dramatically escalated tensions between the two neighboring countries.

What Happened?

The Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, located in Kabul’s Police District 9, was struck during an aerial assault carried out by the Pakistan Air Force. Taliban officials reported that the hospital, which housed around 2,000 patients, was largely destroyed. CBS News reports that the facility was a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation center.

Casualty Reports

Afghan authorities initially stated the death toll reached at least 408, with 265 injured. Wikipedia and AP News both report figures exceeding 400 deaths. Hospital officials estimated casualties to be in the hundreds, noting that approximately 3,000 people were receiving treatment at the time of the strike.

Conflicting Accounts

The Taliban government asserts that the hospital was directly targeted by the Pakistan Air Force. However, Pakistani officials deny targeting the facility, claiming their airstrikes were aimed at military sites in the vicinity. Pakistan stated that any secondary detonations observed after the strikes likely indicated the presence of ammunition depots.

International Response

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that the airstrike was carried out by the Pakistan Air Force and resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

Ongoing Conflict

This airstrike occurred during the ongoing 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.