Air strike hits Kabul rehab center as patients dined, survivor tells BBC

A Devastating Strike on a Kabul Rehab Center

The air strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 16, 2026, resulted in significant casualties. Survivors described the attack, which occurred around 21:00 local time (16:30 GMT) during Ramadan, when patients were breaking their daily fast. Mohammad Shafee, a 20-something patient, recounted the event: “I was in the kitchen assisting with dinner when I heard a loud explosion and fled for safety. When I returned later, I found most of our colleagues and people in the dining room injured. Only five of us survived.”

Initial Reports and Disputes

The Taliban government initially reported approximately 400 deaths, though this number remains unverified. Rescue teams recovered at least 100 bodies, which were transported to the Kabul Forensic Medicine Department. Identification efforts faced challenges due to severe disfigurement. Pakistani officials rejected allegations of targeting the facility, calling Afghan claims “entirely baseless” and asserting their strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.”

“I was in the kitchen assisting with dinner when I heard a loud explosion and fled for safety. When I returned later, I found most of our colleagues and people in the dining room injured. Only five of us survived.”

Afghan Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail confirmed no nearby military sites existed, supporting the assertion that the strike directly hit a civilian facility. This claim aligns with the facility’s history as a former U.S. military compound repurposed for civilian use.

A Contested Facility

The Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, formerly known as Camp Phoenix, has a complex history tied to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Originally a U.S. and NATO military training compound, the facility was abandoned by American troops in 2016 and later converted into a rehabilitation center by the Afghan republic government. Under Taliban control since 2021, the facility became overcrowded, housing up to 5,000 patients—far exceeding its original capacity of 2,000 beds.

Drug users stayed for up to six months, and the center faced strain due to Afghanistan’s ongoing drug crisis. The conversion of Camp Phoenix into a rehab center reflects broader efforts by the Afghan government to repurpose former military infrastructure for civilian use. However, the facility’s proximity to conflict zones and its role as a hub for drug treatment have made it a contentious site. Taliban control has also led to reports of overcrowding and inadequate resources, exacerbating challenges for patients and staff.

“entirely baseless”

Diplomatic Tensions

The airstrike has intensified diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides accusing each other of escalating hostilities. Pakistani officials denied targeting the hospital, emphasizing their focus on military and terrorist infrastructure. The Afghan government and the Taliban accused Islamabad of harboring militants conducting attacks on Pakistani soil. These accusations are part of a broader pattern of mutual blame that has characterized the Pakistan-Afghanistan border conflict for years.

UN Calls for Restraint

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for restraint, noting that at least six health facilities in Afghanistan had been impacted by violence since late February 2026. UN officials urged both sides to prioritize civilian safety, particularly in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations. However, the lack of independent verification of casualty figures has complicated efforts to assess the incident’s full scope. The UN’s limited capacity to intervene further highlights challenges in ensuring accountability.

Human Toll and Survivors’ Accounts

The attack left a profound human toll, with families searching for loved ones and survivors grappling with trauma. At least 3,000 patients were present at the facility during the strike, far exceeding its capacity of 1,000-2,000 beds. Overcrowding, exacerbated by Taliban control, led to dire conditions for patients. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with many trapped under rubble. One patient, Ahmad, recounted the facility engulfing in flames, with friends burning and unable to be saved.

Families sought missing relatives, including a woman searching for her husband, Gul Meer, who had been in the facility for seven months, and another looking for her son, last seen there four months prior. Medics and rescue teams worked tirelessly to recover bodies and care for the injured, but the scale of the disaster overwhelmed local resources.

Broader Implications and Accountability Gaps

The airstrike underscores persistent risks for civilians in conflict zones, particularly where military and civilian infrastructure overlap. The incident raises questions about the accuracy of targeting claims and the need for greater transparency in military operations. While Pakistan maintains its strikes were precise and lawful, the absence of independent verification has fueled skepticism. The Taliban’s control over the facility complicates the situation, as it has become a site of both medical care and strategic significance.

The broader implications highlight challenges in ensuring civilian protection in prolonged conflict. The UN’s limited role and lack of accountability mechanisms for civilian casualties have left many questioning the effectiveness of current international frameworks. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of geopolitical tensions and the urgent need for measures to safeguard civilian lives in conflict zones.