India strongly criticised Pakistan over an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, describing it as a “barbaric massacre” and an unjustifiable act of violence. The strike, which targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, reportedly killed over 400 people and left nearly 300 others injured, according to claims by the Taliban.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the facility could not be considered a legitimate military target under any circumstances. It accused Pakistan of attempting to portray what it called a massacre as a military operation. India termed the attack a “heinous act of aggression” and said it amounted to a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty while posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
Pakistan, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the operation was aimed at military installations and terrorist infrastructure. The government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the strike was conducted with precision and claimed that subsequent explosions indicated the presence of ammunition depots at the site.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, largely driven by Islamabad’s allegations that the Taliban is providing a safe haven to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group accused of carrying out multiple attacks within Pakistan.
India, in its response, also pointed to the timing of the strike during the holy month of Ramzan, stating that no legal, moral, or religious justification could support the targeting of a hospital and its patients. It further accused Pakistan of following a pattern of externalising its internal challenges through actions beyond its borders.
Reports and visuals from Kabul showed extensive damage at the site, with flames engulfing parts of the building and debris scattered across the area. Rescue teams were seen carrying out bodies and assisting survivors. According to officials cited in reports, around 2,000 individuals were present at the rehabilitation centre at the time of the strike. Afghan authorities stated that there were no military facilities in the vicinity of the hospital.
Eyewitnesses described hearing multiple explosions in quick succession, followed by a large fire. Survivors recounted scenes of chaos and destruction, with many patients unable to escape the flames.
The facility, which was earlier a US military base, had been converted into a drug rehabilitation centre after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. The attack has intensified concerns about the worsening security situation in the region, especially as it coincides with broader geopolitical tensions linked to ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
