Satellite imagery has revealed the extent of destruction caused by Pakistan’s cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan, particularly at Kabul’s Omid Hospital, highlighting the scale of damage to what appears to have been a civilian facility.
According to reports, the strikes carried out on February 20 and 21 in Nangarhar province resulted in significant casualties. While some accounts put the death toll at around 400 with more than 250 injured, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has estimated a lower figure of 143 deaths. Pakistan has stated that the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in response to attacks within its own territory.
Images captured on March 20 show that the Omid Hospital, a large 2,000-bed facility, has been extensively damaged. What was previously a structured complex of buildings, including a major central structure and surrounding units, now appears largely reduced to rubble. Analysis of the site suggests that its layout aligns more closely with a rehabilitation centre rather than a military installation.
The facility is located at the former Camp Phoenix site, which had been used as a NATO base before being repurposed after 2021 into a major drug rehabilitation centre under Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry. Its proximity to Kabul’s international airport further underscores its strategic location but does not necessarily indicate military use.
Pakistan has maintained that the strike was aimed at a “terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site,” asserting that it was a precise military operation. However, the nature of the damage and the reported civilian casualties have raised serious concerns and drawn international criticism.
India strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an unjustifiable assault on civilians. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the strike could not be defended as a legitimate military action and characterised it as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. It also warned that such actions could destabilise the region further.
In response to the humanitarian impact, India dispatched approximately 2.5 tonnes of emergency medical supplies, including medicines, equipment, and treatment kits, to assist those affected. The government reiterated its support for the Afghan people and its commitment to providing continued humanitarian aid.
The incident marks one of the most serious escalations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years, although it has received comparatively limited global attention due to the broader focus on ongoing conflicts elsewhere.
