A Pakistani strike killed her son in rehab. Now an Afghan mother demands answers

Following a Pakistani air strike on Kabul's Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital on Monday, families are searching for loved ones amidst the rubble. Afghan authorities report 408 people were killed in the attack on the 2,000-bed facility. Pakistan claims it targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, denying the attack targeted civilians and dismissing Afghan claims as false. The strike is the latest escalation in months of conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, who share a 1,600-mile border, with Islamabad accusing Afghanistan of harboring armed groups responsible for cross-border attacks. Previous mediation attempts by countries like China to resolve the conflict were unsuccessful.

A drug treatment hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan was struck by an air strike on Monday evening, resulting in numerous casualties. The Taliban government accused Pakistan of carrying out the attack, claiming at least 400 deaths, though this number is unverified. Pakistan acknowledged conducting strikes in Kabul and Nangahar, targeting military installations and terrorist infrastructure, but denied hitting any health facilities. The strikes occurred amidst escalating tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militant groups, a claim the Taliban denies. The UN reports that cross-border fighting since February 26 has resulted in at least 75 deaths and 193 injuries in Afghanistan. China has urged both countries to exercise restraint and seek a ceasefire.

Afghanistan accused Pakistan of conducting air strikes on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Monday, resulting in over 200 deaths, according to the Afghan Health Ministry. Pakistan denied the accusation, stating that its strikes, which also occurred in eastern Afghanistan, did not target any civilian areas. The alleged attack followed reports of cross-border fire between the two countries, which Afghan officials say killed four people, marking the third week of escalating tensions. A Taliban spokesman condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghanistan's territory, stating that most of the casualties were patients receiving treatment at the destroyed facility. Local media showed footage of firefighters battling flames amidst the ruins of the hospital.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a five-day pause in hostilities during Eid al-Fitr, beginning at midnight on Thursday. The temporary cessation of conflict was announced by Pakistani officials and confirmed by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The pause was requested by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye. Pakistan's Information Minister warned that operations would resume with renewed intensity if cross-border attacks, drone strikes, or terrorist incidents occur within Pakistan. This agreement follows weeks of deadly violence and recent accusations by Afghanistan that a Pakistani airstrike killed hundreds at a Kabul drug rehabilitation center, a claim Pakistan denies. The UN has recorded 143 deaths in the incident.

Pakistan has paused its strikes against Afghanistan targeting "terrorists and their support infrastructure" starting Wednesday at midnight until Monday at midnight. The decision was made at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. According to Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, this pause is a gesture of good faith in keeping with Islamic norms. However, Pakistan stated that operations would immediately resume with renewed intensity in the event of any cross-border attack, drone attack, or terrorist incident inside Pakistan. This announcement follows Afghanistan holding a mass funeral for victims of what they claim was a Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.

Pakistan has announced a temporary halt to its strikes against Afghanistan, following requests from several unnamed countries. The decision comes two days after a deadly airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Monday, March 16, 2026. The airstrike resulted in casualties, and on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, bulldozers were used to dig graves for the victims in Kabul. The reason for the strikes and the specific countries that requested the pause were not detailed in the provided text. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar spoke to the Associated Press in Islamabad on Wednesday regarding the situation.

Recent drone attacks in Pakistan, including areas near Islamabad and military headquarters in Rawalpindi, are raising concerns about the country's security. On March 13, 2026, drones struck multiple locations, causing injuries in Quetta, Kohat, and Rawalpindi. While the Pakistani military claims to have intercepted some drones and dismisses them as rudimentary, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for attacks on military targets. The Pakistani government has responded by banning drone flights and restricting airspace. Analysts suggest these incidents, regardless of the drones' sophistication, highlight a growing vulnerability and challenge to Pakistan's security and response strategy.

Pakistan has escalated airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan, aiming to pressure the Taliban to stop supporting Pakistani militants operating from Afghan territory. These strikes, which began last month under the operation "Righteous Fury," are intended to impose a high cost on the Taliban administration to deter cross-border attacks. However, the actions risk escalating violence, with the Taliban denouncing the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and threatening retaliation. Afghanistan claims a recent strike hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, killing 400, while Pakistan insists the targets were military and terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan has also closed borders and expelled Afghan refugees in recent months.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari accused the Afghan Taliban government of crossing a "red line" with drone attacks on Pakistani civilians on Friday, March 13, 2026. The attacks, which Pakistan claims to have intercepted, resulted in injuries to civilians in Quetta and other areas. This statement follows escalating cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan that began in late February. The Afghan Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan on the same day, resulting in civilian casualties. China and Turkey have been attempting to mediate a ceasefire between the two countries.

Afghanistan's Taliban government has accused Pakistan of conducting air attacks on civilian homes in Kabul and Kandahar on Friday, March 13, 2026, resulting in deaths, including women and children. The strikes also reportedly targeted fuel depots near Kandahar airport. These attacks follow escalating fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan that began on February 26, triggered by Afghanistan's retaliation for earlier Pakistani air attacks on the Pakistan Taliban. The recent escalation occurs amidst a larger regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Taliban government reported that cross-border clashes have resulted in multiple deaths in Afghanistan since Tuesday. Pakistan has not yet commented on the recent accusations, and casualty claims remain difficult to independently verify.

Cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified, resulting in civilian casualties. On Thursday, the Taliban government reported that Pakistani artillery fire killed four members of a nomad family, including two children, in Khost province, Afghanistan. This brings the total reported deaths in Afghanistan to seven since Tuesday. The Taliban accuses Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian homes, while Pakistan maintains it targets militants with due diligence and avoids civilian harm. These clashes began after an Afghan offensive in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes targeting the Pakistan Taliban, escalating tensions amidst a larger regional conflict that began on February 26.

Pakistan's President Zardari accused the Afghan Taliban government of "crossing a red line" by launching drone attacks on civilian areas within Pakistan, escalating cross-border clashes that began late last month. Pakistan reported intercepting drones on Friday, but stated falling debris injured civilians in Quetta and elsewhere. This followed accusations from the Afghan Taliban that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Kabul claimed its air force retaliated by targeting military installations near Islamabad. Pakistan denies targeting civilians, asserting its operations focus on Pakistani Taliban militants and their networks. The ongoing conflict, described by Pakistan as an "open war," raises concerns about regional stability amidst broader international tensions.

On February 22, 2026, Pakistan launched air strikes in eastern Afghanistan, targeting what it claims are armed groups operating from Afghan territory. These strikes, which hit areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Afghan civilians, including women and children, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defence. Afghanistan has denied harboring militants and condemned the attacks, promising a response. The incident has further escalated the already tense relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021, marked by border closures and mutual accusations of supporting armed groups. Despite mediation efforts by Qatar, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia, a lasting agreement remains elusive.

Afghanistan's Taliban government stated its willingness to negotiate with Pakistan after Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting Taliban forces in Kabul, Kandahar, and other Afghan cities on Friday. These strikes mark the first direct attacks by Pakistan on Afghanistan's government, prompted by allegations that the Taliban harbors militants seeking to destabilize Pakistan. A Taliban spokesman reported civilian casualties resulting from the attacks, while witnesses in Kabul described explosions and smoke plumes. Pakistani security sources claim the strikes, involving air-to-ground missiles, targeted Taliban military offices and posts in retaliation for Afghan attacks the previous day. The situation escalates tensions between the two countries, previously considered allies.

On Sunday, February 23, 2026, Pakistan claimed its military killed at least 70 fighters in air raids along the Afghan border, targeting what it described as camps and hideouts of armed groups responsible for recent attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad. The Pakistani government stated the strikes were intelligence-based and targeted seven camps belonging to the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and its affiliates. Afghan officials denied Pakistan's claims, accusing Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and targeting civilians. Pakistan's president stated the attacks were a response to unheeded warnings to Kabul and were rooted in Pakistan's right to defend its people against terrorism. The air raids have escalated tensions between the two South Asian neighbors.

On Sunday, Pakistan conducted military strikes in Afghanistan, targeting alleged hideouts of Pakistani militants it claims were responsible for recent attacks within Pakistan. The Afghan government stated the strikes hit civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, including a religious school and homes, resulting in numerous casualties. According to the Afghan Red Crescent Society, at least 18 people were killed. Pakistan's Information Minister said the "intelligence-based" operations targeted seven camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and an affiliate of the Islamic State group. The Afghan government condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty, while Pakistan asserted its actions were necessary to protect its citizens and maintain regional stability.

In 2021, Pakistan believed the Taliban's rise to power in Afghanistan would be beneficial. However, Pakistan's military has now launched airstrikes in Afghanistan and engaged in border clashes, signaling a breakdown in relations. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of allowing Pakistani militants, specifically the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to use Afghan territory as a base for attacks. The TTP, which seeks to impose its extreme version of Islam in Pakistan, has increased attacks since the Taliban takeover. The Taliban denies harboring the TTP and urges Pakistan to negotiate with the group. Analysts suggest Pakistan's support of proxies has backfired, creating instability along its western border, with a weakening Iran adding to the challenges.

Amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in February 2026, Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of becoming a proxy for India. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a colony of India and was exporting terrorism, claims the Taliban denies. These accusations followed Pakistani airstrikes within Afghanistan, which Pakistan claims was necessary to maintain regional stability. India has condemned Pakistan's military actions in Afghanistan, particularly the airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties. Pakistan believes India is using Afghanistan to engage in a low-intensity war with Pakistan, further fueling the accusations. The situation highlights growing regional tensions and accusations of foreign influence in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has appointed its first envoy to India in nearly five years, with Noor Ahmad Noor assuming the role of Chargé d'Affaires at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. This diplomatic milestone occurs amidst escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, marked by cross-border violence and strained relations. India has condemned Pakistan's actions and voiced support for Afghanistan's sovereignty. Experts suggest India's engagement with the Taliban is a pragmatic move to counter Pakistani influence and protect its regional security interests. The deteriorating relationship between Kabul and Islamabad factors into India's strategy, offering New Delhi an opportunity to extend its influence while Pakistan faces challenges on multiple fronts.