A Pakistani military air strike destroyed a drug rehabilitation centre in western Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 30 others, according to local officials. The facility, run by a UK-registered charity, employed two British nationals who are now in hiding amid fears of reprisals.
The British Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the two aid workers, whose names have been withheld. The charity, which has operated in Afghanistan since 2019, said it had shared coordinates of the centre with all parties to the conflict.
Witnesses reported a single bomb striking the building at 10:30am local time. Video footage showed rescue workers pulling bodies from the rubble. The Taliban administration condemned the attack as a violation of Afghan sovereignty, while Pakistan’s military said it struck a “terrorist hideout” and claimed to have killed “several high-value targets”. No evidence was provided.
Human rights groups called the strike a possible war crime. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was verifying the civilian casualty figures. The incident comes amid an increase in cross-border violence between Pakistan and the Taliban, who have traded accusations of harbouring militants.
The charity’s director, speaking from London, said the centre had been providing rehabilitation services to more than 200 recovering addicts. “This was a civilian facility, clearly marked and known to all sides. We are devastated.” The two British staff members are being moved to a secure location.
Diplomatic sources suggest the attack may further strain fragile relations between Islamabad and Kabul, and could raise questions about the precision of Pakistan’s intelligence. The British government has not yet issued an official statement but is expected to call for a full investigation.
