KABUL, Afghanistan — Amid falling rain and somber atmosphere, mass funerals commenced in Kabul on Wednesday for victims of a devastating airstrike that targeted a drug rehabilitation facility earlier this week. The incident has dramatically intensified the ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, now entering its third week of sustained hostilities.
Afghan authorities maintain that the strike on Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital resulted in 408 fatalities and 265 injuries, though these figures remain unverified by independent sources. The 2,000-bed medical facility, which had been recently expanded as part of the Taliban government’s initiative to combat widespread drug addiction, was struck around 9 p.m. on Monday near Kabul’s international airport.
Pakistan’s government has categorically denied targeting civilian infrastructure, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserting in an interview that operations specifically targeted “terrorist infrastructure and military setups.” Tarar claimed the strikes hit an ammunition depot in Kabul, resulting in subsequent explosions that caused collateral damage.
This conflict represents the most severe escalation between the neighboring nations in recent history, characterized by repeated cross-border clashes and airstrikes within Afghan territory. The fighting began in late February when Afghanistan launched retaliatory attacks following Pakistani airstrikes, effectively disrupting a Qatar-brokered ceasefire established in October.
The international community has expressed growing concern over the deteriorating situation, particularly given the region’s vulnerability to militant organizations including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group seeking to exploit the instability. Pakistan formally declared itself in “open war” with Afghanistan last month, marking a significant deterioration in bilateral relations.
As recovery efforts continue, authorities report that bodies are still being extracted from the smoldering hospital wreckage. Victims from Kabul province received mass burials while those from other regions were transported to their home provinces for funeral services.