Airstrike on Kabul Hospital Kills 269, Contradicting Pakistan's Claims
Kabul, Afghanistan – On 16 March 2026, at least 269 people were killed in an airstrike by Pakistan on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul. The facility was treating patients for drug addiction.
"Interviews by the BBC with families of more than 30 victims, including patients and employees, contradict this claim."
Pakistan stated to the BBC that the strike targeted "military and terrorist infrastructure." However, the United Nations, which was granted access to the site, and BBC Afghan service teams on the ground confirmed that the strike hit civilians undergoing treatment.
The United Nations and BBC Afghan service teams on the ground confirmed that the strike hit civilians undergoing treatment.
The hospital was a dedicated facility for drug rehabilitation, housing patients in a vulnerable state. The victims included both patients and hospital staff, many of whom were reportedly killed while in their beds or during daily treatment routines.