Following recent airstrikes in Kabul and Nangarhar, the situation in the Afghan capital has become increasingly sensitive not only in terms of security but also due to an intensifying war of narratives. Conflicting claims have emerged: on one hand, the Taliban allege that Pakistan targeted a hospital, resulting in multiple civilian casualties; on the other hand, ground realities, eyewitness accounts, and official statements appear to contradict these claims.
According to Pakistan’s official statement, the airstrikes carried out on March 17, 2026, under Operation “Ghazab-ul-Haq” targeted only military installations used by the Afghan Taliban and facilities supporting terrorist groups. The statement claims that two key locations in Kabul, including weapons depots and technical infrastructure, were destroyed. The secondary explosions reported afterward are cited as evidence of the presence of large quantities of ammunition and explosives at those sites. Similarly, four military-type targets were struck in Nangarhar, where logistics and weapons centers were allegedly operating.
Notably, two days earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had claimed that a drug rehabilitation center in Kandahar had been targeted, though no casualties were confirmed. The following day, another claim surfaced alleging a hospital strike with 400 deaths. Analysts suggest that this sequence may not be coincidental. It could either be a series of unverified allegations or a pre-planned narrative aimed at blaming Pakistan to gain international sympathy.
Defense analysts argue that if a major civilian center had been targeted, clear evidence and confirmed casualty reports would have emerged, making the claims questionable. Furthermore, some videos circulating on social media and local testimonies have alleged that certain damages or fires may have been caused by the Taliban themselves, possibly to shift blame onto Pakistan and attract international attention.
Videos and reports emerging from Kabul also indicate that public opinion within the city is divided. While some groups have expressed anger toward Pakistan, others have described the strikes as counter-terrorism measures, reflecting differing perspectives within Afghan society.
In another video, a Pashtun individual allegedly claims that the hospital was set on fire by the Taliban themselves, possibly to eliminate drug addicts and later attribute the incident to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s official stance maintains that the operations exclusively target elements and infrastructure involved in supporting terrorism, including groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij and others. Authorities emphasize that Pakistan will continue such actions to safeguard its territory and citizens and will not allow propaganda efforts to distort the facts.
