A recent report by the United Nations has brought to light the devastating human cost of a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in north-west Kabul two months ago. The attack, which targeted the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital, is now confirmed to have killed at least 269 people, making it the deadliest incident in Afghanistan's recent history. Among the countless victims is 24-year-old Mirwais, whose sister Masooda continues to grieve, unable to locate his exact burial spot within a sprawling mass grave.

What Happened?

On a cold, rainy morning, Masooda visited a hillside cemetery in Kabul, her heart heavy with sorrow. She stood at the edge of a mass grave, neatly covered with tiny white stones and marked by grey granite slabs. This serves as the final resting place for many victims of the recent Pakistani airstrike. Her younger brother, Mirwais, was among those killed. However, Masooda does not know his exact burial location, a testament to the sheer scale of the tragedy and the condition of the bodies.

Many victims, including Mirwais, were barely identifiable after the attack. Their bodies were reduced to fragments or burned beyond recognition. Masooda tragically identified her brother's torso through a birthmark. The United Nations confirms at least 269 deaths, but acknowledges the true number is likely much higher. This attack on the Omid center represents the highest civilian death toll in Afghanistan, surpassing even the long years of conflict involving the Taliban, NATO, and Afghan forces.

The airstrike occurred amidst ongoing border tensions and fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has claimed hundreds of lives, predominantly from Pakistani airstrikes. Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of harboring militants who launch attacks into Pakistan, a claim Kabul vehemently denies. The carnage at the drug rehabilitation center accounts for the majority of fatalities in this conflict over the past year. The scale of death has deeply shocked Afghanistan, a nation long accustomed to violence.

Both the UN, which gained access to the site, and BBC Afghan service teams on the ground immediately after the attack, confirmed the strike hit civilians undergoing treatment. Human Rights Watch has labeled the incident an “unlawful attack and a possible war crime,” urging a thorough investigation. Pakistan, however, disputes these findings, stating that “no hospital, no drug rehabilitation centre, and no civilian facility was targeted.” They maintain their targets were “military and terrorist infrastructure.”

Victim families, including Masooda, strongly reject Pakistan’s claims. Masooda firmly states, “Pakistan is lying. I have seen it and it wasn’t a military camp. There were men admitted there who had come to get healed and return to their families.” The BBC has interviewed over 30 families of victims—recovering addicts and center employees—all of whom deny Pakistan’s assertion. While the Omid center is situated in a former military training compound, Camp Phoenix, previously used by US and NATO forces, it has operated as a civilian drug rehabilitation facility since 2016. It was well-known and extensively covered by both local and international media. UN representatives also confirmed their awareness of the site, noting it was only about a kilometer from their main offices.

Key Highlights

A Pakistani airstrike on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul killed at least 269 people.
This incident marks the deadliest attack in Afghanistan's recent history, exceeding casualties from two decades of war.
Many victims, including 24-year-old Mirwais, were severely dismembered, making identification extremely difficult.
The United Nations has confirmed the death toll and suggests the actual number of fatalities could be significantly higher.
Human Rights Watch is calling for the attack to be investigated as a potential war crime against civilians.
Pakistan denies targeting civilian facilities, claiming their strikes were aimed at military and terrorist infrastructure.
The Omid center, though located in a former military compound, has operated as a civilian drug rehab facility since 2016 and was well-known to international bodies.
Families of victims and international observers refute Pakistan’s claims, asserting that the center was indeed a civilian target.

Why Does This Matter?

This tragic incident underscores the devastating human cost of ongoing conflict, particularly when civilian infrastructure and vulnerable populations are caught in the crossfire. For ordinary people in Afghanistan, already grappling with decades of instability and a severe drug addiction crisis, an attack on a rehabilitation center is a profound blow. It shatters any sense of safety, even in places dedicated to healing and recovery. The loss of life on this scale, including many who were actively seeking a path away from addiction, represents an immense personal tragedy for hundreds of families like Masooda's. It also highlights the extreme difficulty and trauma of identifying loved ones, leaving families without closure and struggling with unimaginable grief.

Furthermore, the dispute over whether the target was civilian or military raises serious questions about adherence to international humanitarian law. When international bodies like the UN and human rights organizations confirm civilian casualties, and a nation involved in the conflict denies it, trust erodes. This situation demands a transparent and independent investigation to ascertain accountability and prevent similar atrocities. It matters because it sets a precedent for how future conflicts are conducted and how civilian lives are valued. For a country like Afghanistan, where millions battle addiction, the destruction of a vital rehabilitation center not only claims lives but also severely hinders efforts to address a widespread public health crisis, impacting the very fabric of society.