The Taliban government in Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in Kabul on March 17, 2026, claiming they struck a hospital and killed civilians. A Taliban spokesperson stated the strikes resulted in numerous casualties, though specific figures could not be independently verified.
Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed it conducted "counter-terrorism" operations in border regions of Afghanistan on the same day but categorically denied targeting any civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. A spokesperson stated the strikes were aimed at militant hideouts in response to recent terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil.
International reactions have called for restraint and an investigation into the incident. The conflicting accounts from Kabul and Islamabad highlight the ongoing tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, with Pakistan asserting its right to self-defense against cross-border militancy.
As of March 17, 2026, independent verification of the exact location of the strikes, the nature of the building hit, and the casualty figures remains unavailable. Both sides have provided contradictory narratives, and access for international observers to the reported site is limited.
