Over 400 killed in Afghanistan after Pakistani airstrike at Kabul hospital

The alleged attack came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan.

Updated on: Mar 17, 2026, 05:23:45 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Afghanistan on Monday said more than 400 people were killed and over 250 injured after the Pakistan military carried out an airstrike targeting a Kabul hospital that treats drug addicts, Afghan officials said on Tuesday.

This photograph shows smoke and flames rising from an area hit by airstrikes, in Kabul on March 16, 2026. (AFP)

The alleged attack came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan, as the fighting between the neighbors entered a third week.

Track latest updates on Pakistan-Afghanistan war live

Though Taliban officials earlier said that 200 people were killed in the strike, the toll was later revised to 400. Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the death toll from the airstrike had increased to 400. He added that another 250 people were reported injured.

In a social media post, Fitrat said the strike had destroyed large sections of the hospital, which treated drug addicts. He said rescue teams were trying to control the fire at the building and recover the bodies of the victims.

Pakistan had earlier denied that it had hit a hospital, saying its strike in Kabul and other strikes in eastern Afghanistan Monday had not hit any civilian sites.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying no hospital was targeted in Kabul.

In a post on X, Pakistan's Ministry of Information said the strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure including technical equipment storage and ammunition storage of Afghan Taliban.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.