Rescue teams are continuing to pull bodies from the smoking rubble of a drug rehabilitation centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which was hit on Monday night in a devastating Pakistani air strike. The attack on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, which happened at about 21:00 local time (16:30 GMT), is the deadliest in recent violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The strike occurred as residents broke their daily fast for Ramadan. The Taliban government believes the number of fatalities could be around 400, though this figure has yet to be confirmed, amid reports of many injuries.
Mohammad Shafee, a patient in his 20s, recounted the attack: I was in the kitchen helping to serve dinner when I heard a loud bang and ran for safety. He later returned to find the dining room devastated, with only a handful of survivors. Dr. Maiwand Hoshmand reported that patients were engaged in prayers and had recently finished dinner when the jets struck. Witnesses described the scene as horrific, with many trapped in the burning wreckage.
It remains unclear why the hospital was targeted, with Pakistan denying allegations of intentional aggression, claiming precise strikes on military installations. The airstrike has raised concerns about the ongoing hostilities between the two countries, leading to significant civilian casualties. In recent months, both nations have seen escalating violence, with the United Nations urging for restraint amid a growing humanitarian crisis affecting healthcare facilities in Afghanistan.
Mohammad Shafee, a patient in his 20s, recounted the attack: I was in the kitchen helping to serve dinner when I heard a loud bang and ran for safety. He later returned to find the dining room devastated, with only a handful of survivors. Dr. Maiwand Hoshmand reported that patients were engaged in prayers and had recently finished dinner when the jets struck. Witnesses described the scene as horrific, with many trapped in the burning wreckage.
It remains unclear why the hospital was targeted, with Pakistan denying allegations of intentional aggression, claiming precise strikes on military installations. The airstrike has raised concerns about the ongoing hostilities between the two countries, leading to significant civilian casualties. In recent months, both nations have seen escalating violence, with the United Nations urging for restraint amid a growing humanitarian crisis affecting healthcare facilities in Afghanistan.
