By Rachel Akper

Afghanistan government has accused Pakistan of carrying out a deadly airstrike on a drug rehabilitation clinic in the capital, killing approximately 400 people in what could be one of the deadliest single attacks in the country in recent years.

Afghan officials said the strike occurred late on March 16 in Kabul, hitting a large addiction treatment facility where hundreds of patients were undergoing rehabilitation.

The government claims many of the victims were civilians receiving care at the centre, with more than 250 others reportedly injured.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with parts of the facility reduced to rubble and emergency responders working through the night to locate survivors and recover bodies. Health workers said the scale of casualties has overwhelmed nearby hospitals.

The Afghan government condemned the incident, describing it as a direct attack on a civilian medical facility and a violation of international humanitarian law. Officials have called for an independent international investigation into the strike.

However, Pakistani authorities have rejected the allegation, insisting that their military operation targeted militant hideouts and not a medical facility. According to officials in Islamabad, the strike was part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts against armed groups allegedly operating near the site.

The conflicting accounts have further heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries, which have recently exchanged accusations over cross-border militancy and security breaches.

International organisations, including the United Nations, have expressed concern over the reported high number of civilian casualties and urged both sides to exercise restraint while investigations continue.

While the reported death toll ranges between 400 and 408, independent verification remains difficult due to limited access to the site. Humanitarian groups on the ground, however, have confirmed significant civilian casualties.