Pakistan-Afghanistan War Highlights: Over 400 dead in Kabul airstrike, Pakistan refutes allegations

The European Union on Tuesday urged restraint from both Afghanistan and Pakistan following a reported airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, which Afghan authorities said resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Describing the incident as a serious escalation, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the strike on a medical facility had significantly worsened the conflict.

"The attack on a medical facility in Kabul constitutes a new and deadly escalation in a conflict that must end as soon as possible," he said during a media briefing in Brussels.

"We call on both parties to exercise maximum restraint and to take all possible measures to minimise the risk of harm to civilians," he added.

Rescue teams continued to retrieve bodies from the debris of a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, a day after an overnight airstrike left more than 400 people dead, according to officials. The incident marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, now entering its third week.

Pakistan denied accusations from Afghan authorities that it had targeted the hospital, stating that the strikes — including those carried out in eastern Afghanistan a day earlier — were aimed at military installations. It also dismissed claims of large-scale civilian casualties as propaganda.

India on Tuesday strongly criticised Pakistan over its reported airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, calling it a serious violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. The remarks came amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the incident.

Afghan media reports said that more than 200 people were killed and over 250 others injured in the strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, triggering widespread concern over civilian casualties.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India "unequivocally condemns Pakistan's barbaric airstrike" on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul last night.

"This is a cowardly and unconscionable act of violence that has claimed the lives of a large number of civilians in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target," it said.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated sharply this week after the Afghan Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre, killing more than 400 people — an allegation Pakistan has firmly denied. As concerns grow over a possible intensification of the conflict, a comparison of the two countries’ military capabilities highlights a significant imbalance.

Pakistan Holds Clear Military Edge

According to estimates from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Pakistan has invested heavily in strengthening its armed forces, including expanding its nuclear programme and modernising its military with support from China.

In contrast, Afghanistan’s forces remain constrained due to the Taliban government’s limited international recognition, which has restricted access to advanced equipment, maintenance and technical expertise.

Personnel and Equipment Gap

Pakistan maintains around 660,000 active military personnel, including approximately 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force and 30,000 in the navy. Afghanistan’s military strength is significantly smaller, with an estimated 150,000 personnel.

The disparity is also evident in equipment. Pakistan operates more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles and over 4,600 artillery systems. Afghan forces, meanwhile, rely largely on older equipment, including Soviet-era tanks and armoured carriers, with no clear data on the scale of their arsenal.

Air Power and Nuclear Capability

The gap widens further in air power. Pakistan fields around 422 combat aircraft and over 260 helicopters, while Afghanistan lacks a functional air force, with only a handful of ageing aircraft and limited helicopter capacity, many of which may not be operational.

Although the Taliban has reportedly deployed drones in recent months, details about their origin and operational strength remain unclear.

Pakistan’s position as a nuclear-armed state adds another critical dimension. It continues to invest in its nuclear capabilities despite economic pressures, whereas Afghanistan does not possess any nuclear weapons, underscoring the stark contrast in strategic power between the two nations.

Rescue teams continued to pull bodies from the debris of a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, after Afghan officials said an overnight airstrike by Pakistan killed at least 400 people. The incident marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two neighbouring countries, now entering its third week.

Islamabad rejected the allegations, maintaining that its airstrikes — including those carried out in eastern Afghanistan a day earlier — were directed at military installations and not civilian infrastructure. It also dismissed claims of large-scale casualties at a hospital as propaganda.

According to Afghan authorities, the injured and deceased were transported to multiple medical facilities across the area as rescue operations continued.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated in recent months, marked by repeated clashes, airstrikes and failed diplomatic efforts. The latest flashpoint came on March 17, when more than 400 people were reported killed in an airstrike in Kabul, with the Afghan Taliban government accusing Pakistan of hitting a rehabilitation hospital — a claim Islamabad has denied, stating it targeted militant infrastructure.

Escalation Since Late 2025

The current phase of hostilities traces back to October 12, 2025, when intense overnight border clashes left dozens of fighters dead — the most serious fighting since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul. A temporary breakthrough followed on October 19, when both sides agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey, but the truce proved short-lived as negotiations collapsed days later on October 28.

Violence resumed on November 25, when Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan killed nine children and a woman, prompting warnings of retaliation from the Taliban. Further diplomatic efforts in early December, including talks hosted in Saudi Arabia, failed to yield any significant progress.

Renewed Clashes and Failed Mediation in 2026

Hostilities intensified again in 2026. On February 27, Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes on 22 Afghan military targets, reporting casualties on both sides. Days later, on March 3, troops from both countries engaged in clashes along their extensive border, with the United Nations warning that dozens of civilians had been killed within a week.

Efforts to de-escalate tensions included diplomatic outreach from China, where President Xi Jinping reportedly urged restraint. Despite this, fresh strikes were reported on March 13, including an attack near Kandahar airport that Afghan authorities said targeted civilian infrastructure.

The situation reached a critical point on March 17 with reports of mass casualties in Kabul, further deepening mistrust between the two neighbours and raising concerns over a broader regional conflict.

Pakistan carried out overnight “precision airstrikes” targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps and associated infrastructure across Afghanistan. However, Afghan authorities alleged that the strikes hit a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of at least 400 people.

The strikes are part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on February 26, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Islamabad has said the operation was initiated in response to alleged attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along the 2,600-kilometre border between the two countries.

Former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha on Tuesday strongly criticised Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, describing them as a significant escalation in tensions and raising serious humanitarian concerns.

Reacting to reports of a strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, Sinha said targeting a medical facility and killing civilians undergoing treatment cannot be defended on any military grounds.

"This is a major escalation by Pakistan. Hitting a hospital and causing the death of hundreds of civilians under treatment is a war crime," Sinha said.

China has increased its diplomatic outreach to calm the situation, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking to his counterparts in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past week, according to the BBC.

On Monday, Beijing called for a ceasefire “at the earliest opportunity” and urged both sides to “stay calm and show restraint.” It also pushed for direct talks between the two countries as soon as possible, the report said.

Afghanistan cricketer Rahmanullah Gurbaz has spoken out after reports of a strike on a hospital in Kabul, raising questions about the global response.

In a post on X, he asked, “Where is international law now? Where is humanity now?” as he pointed to the loss of civilian lives and drew attention to the humanitarian impact of the incident.

Mirwais Ashraf, chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, criticised the reported strike on a civilian rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, calling it a “clear breach of humanitarian norms.”

In a post on X, he said the killing of innocent people during the holy month of Ramadan showed a lack of respect for human life and dignity. He added that such incidents would only make the Afghan people more determined.

Pakistan dismissed allegations of targeting a hospital, with spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi calling them baseless. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said precision airstrikes hit militant-linked infrastructure in Kabul and Nangarhar. Islamabad insisted no civilian sites were struck. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council urged Afghanistan to intensify efforts against militant groups amid rising tensions.

Pakistan rejected the allegations as “false and misleading,” saying its military precisely targeted installations linked to militants. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said secondary explosions indicated the presence of ammunition depots.

"The visible secondary detonations after the strikes clearly indicate the presence of large ammunition depots," Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on X.

The air strike came hours after China said it remained ready to continue efforts to ease tensions between the South Asian Islamic nations and urged both to avoid expanding the war and return to the negotiating table.

Afghanistan has consistently denied Pakistan’s allegations of sheltering militants. Taliban officials insist they do not allow Afghan territory to be used for attacks against other countries. These conflicting narratives have deepened mistrust and hindered diplomatic efforts.

Mallikarjun Kharge strongly condemned the reported Pakistani airstrike in Kabul, expressing deep concern over the loss of civilian lives.

"On behalf of the Indian National Congress we are deeply distressed by the horrific loss of civilian lives in Kabul following the recent air strikes by Pakistan on a hospital which killed nearly 400 people." "We condemn such acts against humanity in the strongest possible terms. Such barbarism must be strongly rejected globally," he said on X.

Rescue crews were still pulling bodies from the rubble of a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Tuesday morning, after Afghan officials said an overnight Pakistani airstrike killed at least 400 people. Emergency teams continued search operations amid heavy destruction. Pakistan denied targeting a hospital, maintaining that its strikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan did not hit any civilian sites.

Pakistan’s defence minister described the ongoing tensions as an “open war,” reflecting the seriousness of the situation. This statement marked a significant shift in rhetoric, signaling that diplomatic solutions are increasingly unlikely and that military actions could dominate relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the near future.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban were once close allies, with Islamabad playing a key role in the Taliban’s rise during the 1990s. The relationship was built on strategic interests, particularly Pakistan’s aim to gain influence in Afghanistan. However, decades later, this alliance has fractured, turning into open hostility marked by military strikes, accusations, and rising tensions.

The escalating conflict has raised alarm across the international community. Analysts warn that prolonged fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan could destabilize the region and provide opportunities for extremist groups to expand their presence.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has declared that there will be “no more diplomacy or talks” with Pakistan following the recent airstrikes. He said the Taliban would instead pursue retaliation, vowing to avenge those killed. Mujahid also warned that any further attacks by Pakistan would carry serious consequences, signaling a dangerous escalation in already strained relations between the two sides.

Afghanistan’s authorities have strongly rejected Pakistan’s accusations. Officials in Kabul say they do not allow any militant groups to use Afghan territory to launch attacks against other countries. They insist Pakistan’s claims are unfounded.

Pakistan says militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban are using Afghanistan as a base for attacks. Islamabad claims these militants cross the border to strike Pakistani security forces and civilians before returning to hide inside Afghanistan.

-Reuters

Several Afghan cricketers have spoken out against the reported civilian casualties in Kabul following Pakistan’s airstrikes, expressing grief and demanding justice for the victims. According to Khaama Press, heavy bombardment hit the Afghan capital with multiple explosions reported across the city. The incident reflects rapidly worsening ties between Pakistan and the Taliban administration, with both sides continuing to trade accusations over security concerns.

Along with condemning terrorism, the UN Security Council also extended the mandate of its political mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA. The extension will last for three months as the international body continues monitoring developments in the country.

-Reuters

The attack came just hours after the United Nations Security Council urged Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership to strengthen efforts against terrorism. The council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning terrorist activity and calling for stronger measures to prevent attacks in the region.

Local television channels shared videos on social media showing the chaotic rescue operation. The footage showed security personnel using flashlights as they carried injured victims away from the destroyed building. Firefighters were seen trying to extinguish flames while thick smoke rose from the ruins.

Pakistani officials noted that the operation was carefully planned to avoid civilian damage. They said all targets were selected based on intelligence about militant activities. Authorities insisted that the strikes were “precision operations” carried out strictly against infrastructure supporting armed groups.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the air force conducted precision airstrikes in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar. According to Pakistan, the strikes targeted military infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities believed to be linked to militant groups operating against Pakistan.

Pakistan strongly denied Afghanistan’s claims that a hospital had been targeted. Officials in Islamabad said the military had not attacked any civilian infrastructure in Kabul. They insisted that the strikes were aimed only at specific military-related facilities used for militant operations.

Afghanistan’s government strongly condemned the airstrike, calling it a grave violation of international norms. Officials said the attack targeted a medical facility filled with patients receiving treatment. They described the strike as a shocking escalation of violence and demanded international attention to the incident.