Afghan officials report a Pakistani military airstrikekilled at least 400 people on Monday (local time) at a drug addiction rehabilitation facility in Kabul.
Pakistan has called Afghanistan’s account “false and deceptive”.
The countries have clashed multiple times in recent years, agreeing to a ceasefire in October 2025.
The UN has called for an independent investigation into the strike.
Context
The Taliban is an extremist Islamist group that held power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. In 2021, it seized power again after the U.S. (and its allies, including Australia) withdrew their troops from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has backed the Taliban in the past, but the relationship is complicated by accusations the group is sheltering a collection of militant groups called Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP seeks to overthrow Pakistan’s Government. It has carried out hundreds of attacks in recent years.
Afghanistan does not recognise the 2,600km border between the two countries because it was drawn by the British Empire in the 1890s.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban escalated sharply in October 2025, with cross-border fighting lasting more than a week.
Despite a ceasefire signed in October, clashes between the two countries have continued.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban of backing a TTP attack in November, while the Taliban has accused Pakistan of killing civilians, among other accusations from both sides.
Bombing
On 16 March (local time), Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the Pakistani military struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul.
Fitrat reported a death toll of 400, with a further 250 injured. The UN has also cited this death toll.
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Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military “carried out precision airstrikes... targeting Afghan Taliban regime terrorism”.
Tarar said the claim the drug rehabilitation facility was targeted was “entirely baseless”.
War crimes
All UN member nations, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, have agreed to theGeneva Conventions: a series of treaties to protect people not participating in conflict.
Warring parties must not mistreat, attack, or kill the sick and wounded – whether they are soldiers or civilians.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and tries people accused of breaching these conventions.
International response
China has been involved in mediation between the two countries. On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said “China hopes [they] exercise restraint.”
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was the latest in a series of attacks on “health facilities” in Afghanistan in recent weeks.
UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan called for an independent investigation and for “those responsible [to be] held to account”.
Australia
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told TDA:“We call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and for the protection of civilians.”
“Australia does not regard the Taliban as the legitimate representatives of the Afghan people,” they added.
Pakistani-born Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi called the reports “horrific”.
“Hospitals and civilians should never be targets,” she added.
