Pakistan Denies Afghanistan Hospital Air Strike Killing 400

Published: 17 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Pakistan has strongly denied allegations that it carried out an air strike on a hospital in Afghanistan that reportedly killed more than 400 people, as tensions between the two neighbouring countries escalate into one of their most serious confrontations in recent years.

Afghan authorities, led by the Taliban administration, claimed that a Pakistani air strike struck the Omid drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, leaving at least 400 people dead and around 250 injured. Officials said the facility was full of patients at the time of the attack, many of whom were undergoing treatment, and described scenes of devastation with large sections of the building destroyed.

Eyewitnesses and rescue workers reported chaotic conditions following the strike, with fires breaking out and bodies trapped beneath rubble. Emergency crews have been working to recover victims as fears remain that the death toll could rise further.

However, Pakistan has categorically rejected the accusations, calling them “false and misleading.” Officials insist that their military operations targeted only militant infrastructure and not civilian facilities. According to Pakistan’s information ministry, the strikes were aimed at “terrorist support infrastructure” and military installations, with claims that secondary explosions indicated the presence of ammunition depots at the targeted sites.

The conflicting accounts have made independent verification difficult, with no immediate confirmation from neutral observers regarding the exact nature of the target or the full extent of casualties.

The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has intensified over recent weeks with cross-border strikes and accusations of harbouring militant groups. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghan authorities of allowing armed groups to operate from their territory, while Kabul has rejected those claims and condemned Pakistan’s actions as violations of sovereignty.

International concern is mounting as the crisis deepens. The United Nations and regional powers, including China, have urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, some countries have condemned the reported attack, warning of serious humanitarian consequences if civilian infrastructure has indeed been targeted.

The situation remains volatile, with fears that continued military exchanges could destabilise the broader region. As both sides maintain sharply opposing narratives, the truth behind the alleged hospital strike — and the full scale of its impact — is likely to remain under scrutiny in the days ahead.

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