Afghan Officials Say Hundreds Dead in Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul

New York Times
by Safiullah Padshah and Elian Peltier
March 17, 2026
3 min read

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Pakistan and Afghanistan dispute account of airstrike on Kabul that reportedly killed hundreds in facility.

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Pakistan conducted an airstrike on Kabul that killed hundreds of people, according to Afghan officials, who say the strike hit a drug rehabilitation facility with civilians inside. Pakistan disputed the account, claiming it had targeted a weapons depot in the same location. The conflicting narratives underscore the persistent tension between the two neighboring countries and raise questions about civilian casualties in cross-border operations. Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of conducting military operations on its soil, while Pakistan has justified such strikes as necessary to counter militant groups it says operate from Afghan territory. The incident could further strain already fragile diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

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