A devastating airstrike on a hospital in Kabul has left more than 400 people dead and around 250 injured, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

According to Afghan officials and Taliban spokespersons, the strike targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a large drug rehabilitation facility, late Monday night. The attack reportedly caused massive destruction, with large sections of the hospital collapsing and trapping patients and staff under debris.

Most of the victims are believed to be civilians, including patients undergoing treatment at the facility. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with fires raging and rescue workers struggling to pull bodies from the rubble.

The Taliban administration has blamed Pakistan for carrying out the airstrike, calling it a “crime against humanity” and accusing Islamabad of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. Afghan officials warned that the attack could trigger further retaliation and escalate the conflict.

Pakistan, however, has strongly denied targeting any hospital. Officials in Islamabad stated that their military operations were aimed only at “terrorist infrastructure” and militant positions, insisting that precision strikes were conducted in Kabul and other regions.

The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two neighbours, with cross-border airstrikes, drone attacks and artillery exchanges intensifying over the past few weeks. The current phase of conflict is linked to Pakistan’s ongoing military campaign, which it says is aimed at eliminating militant threats operating from Afghan territory.

The scale of casualties has triggered international concern, with global observers warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Calls for restraint and an independent investigation have grown louder, particularly as hospitals and civilian facilities are protected under international law.

As rescue operations continue in Kabul, fears remain that the death toll could rise further. The strike has not only deepened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also raised alarm over the growing risk of a prolonged and more destructive regional conflict.