Kabul Drug Rehab Centre Bombed by Pakistan: Over 400 Feared Dead in Airstrike
Relatives of patients at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul have been desperately searching for their loved ones two days after the facility was bombed by Pakistan, in what marks the deadliest attack so far in the months-long conflict between the two neighbouring countries. The Afghan Taliban government has reported that more than 400 people were killed and 265 others wounded in the airstrike, which occurred on Monday night as individuals and staff at the centre were engaged in prayers just days before the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.
Families in Anguish Amidst the Rubble
On Wednesday, distraught family members gathered at the site of the destroyed rehab centre, many expressing uncertainty over whether their relatives were alive, dead, or had been relocated elsewhere. Mazar, a 50-year-old who provided only one name, stated, "We came here looking for our patient, he is missing. We came to find out whether he is well, alive, or what has happened to him." He added that his relative had been admitted to the centre for a second time and was not listed among the survivors, raising fears that he may be injured or deceased.
Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted his futile search efforts, saying, "We did not find his body, nor was he among the wounded, and his name is not on the list of survivors. We have come again today for more information." Firefighters were observed dousing small fires approximately 36 hours after the bombing, with smoke still smouldering from parts of the compound and debris including furniture, mattresses, and clothing scattered across the area.
Disputed Targets and Escalating Tensions
Pakistan has vehemently rejected the Afghan Taliban's claims, asserting that it "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure." This sharp escalation has further strained relations between the Islamic neighbours, occurring against a backdrop of regional destabilisation due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Afghan authorities maintain that the attack clearly targeted a well-known rehabilitation centre, a former Nato military base named Camp Phoenix that was converted into a civilian facility about a decade ago.
In contrast, Pakistan describes the site as a "military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site," citing secondary detonations as evidence of large ammunition depots. The conflict, which began last year after Pakistan accused Kabul of sheltering militants, had previously eased amid mediation efforts by countries like China but flared up again last month, with Pakistan now directly targeting the Afghan Taliban.
Humanitarian Fallout and International Response
The interior ministry of Afghanistan announced that funerals for some of the victims would be held later on Wednesday. Abdul Mateen Qanie, a ministry spokesperson, explained, "Some of the bodies were not identifiable and are currently at the forensic department. Some bodies were intact and were handed over to their families. Others were completely destroyed, collected almost like pieces of flesh." Najibullah Farooqi, head of Afghanistan's legal medicine directorate, noted that bodies were still being recovered from the debris as late as Tuesday night, with many remaining unidentified.
The European Union, United Nations agencies, and international aid groups have issued statements emphasising that civilian and medical facilities should not be targeted during conflicts, calling for immediate de-escalation. This incident underscores the severe humanitarian consequences of the ongoing strife, as families grapple with loss and uncertainty in a region already fraught with tension.
