Rescue teams are continuing to pull bodies from the smoking rubble of a drug rehabilitation centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which was hit on Monday night in a devastating Pakistani air strike.
The attack on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, which happened at about 21:00 local time (16:30 GMT), is the deadliest in recent violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The strike happened as residents broke their daily fast for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The death toll has continued to rise, with the Taliban government estimating approximately 400 casualties; however, this figure remains unconfirmed. Many are also reported injured.
Mohammad Shafee, a patient in his 20s, survived the attack, stating, I was in the kitchen helping to serve dinner when I heard a loud bang and ran for safety. Upon returning, he discovered that most of his colleagues and fellow diners had been hit, with only five survivors remaining.
Dr. Maiwand Hoshmand, an employee at the facility, noted that patients had just concluded dinner and some were at congregational prayer when the jets struck, hitting three sections of the center.
Eyewitness accounts detail the terrifying moments: I heard the sound of the jet patrolling, stated Omid Stanikzai, a security guard. He added, When these military units fired on the jet, it dropped bombs, and a fire broke out. Another witness described the chaos, saying, The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday.
This assault continues a cycle of violence, with Pakistan and Afghanistan trading accusations amid rising tensions and casualties on both sides of the border. Islamabad maintains that its operations are precisely targeting military installations, while Afghan officials contest these claims.
UN officials have urged restraint, highlighting that at least six health facilities in Afghanistan have reportedly been impacted since late February due to the escalation of hostilities.
Medical personnel are seen treating a multitude of injured individuals amid the smoldering remnants of the rehabilitation center, as a crowd of anxious family members gathers seeking updates on their loved ones.
With Afghanistan grappling with major drug addiction issues, the Omid Addiction Treatment facility, formerly known as Camp Phoenix, had recently been overwhelmed with patients, housing far more individuals than its intended capacity.
