Evidence from the ground in Kabul has raised serious questions regarding the Afghan Taliban’s claims of massive civilian casualties following an airstrike on Monday night.
Despite a sudden surge in social media activity and coordinated international campaigns, local reports and eyewitness accounts suggest the targeted site was not a “rehab centre,” but a Taliban military facility.
The Social Media “Resurrection”
In a move that has baffled observers, the Afghan internet and social media—which had been largely shut down by the Taliban for several days—were suddenly reactivated last night.
Previously, the Taliban had threatened Afghan citizens with severe punishment for using these platforms.
The sudden “unblocking” coincided with a flood of posts claiming that an airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation hospital.
This narrative was quickly amplified by several Indian social media accounts and high-profile figures, including Bollywood stars, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to frame the event as a humanitarian disaster.
Ground Realities Contradict Taliban Claims
While the Taliban administration claimed that up to 400 people died in the attack, the evidence at the scene tells a different story:
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No Signs of Mass Casualties: Local journalists, who were allowed to visit the site after being held back all night, reported finding no traces of blood or signs of the large-scale destruction typically associated with hundreds of deaths.
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Missing Relatives: Despite claims of hundreds of victims, no families or relatives have come forward at the site or at local hospitals to claim bodies or search for the missing.
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Limited Damage: Reports from Zawiya News and The Afghan Times indicate only minor fire damage to the building. Eyewitnesses stated that the primary explosion actually occurred at a distance from the “rehab centre” building.
The Real Target: A Military Camp
Local sources and analysts suggest the actual target was a nearby Taliban military camp and ammunition depot. Witnesses reported seeing large secondary flames, which are consistent with the cook-off of stored weapons and military hardware rather than a residential or medical fire.
Pakistan’s Strategic Position
Official circles in Pakistan have dismissed the Taliban’s narrative as “false propaganda” designed to defame Pakistan on the global stage. Pakistan has maintained a clear stance: as long as Afghan soil is used to facilitate Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) suicide bombers and terrorists, operations to protect Pakistani citizens will continue.
The precision strikes were reportedly aimed at dismantling the “technical support infrastructure” used by militants to launch cross-border attacks. Authorities in Islamabad have reiterated that no amount of digital propaganda will deter them from neutralising threats emerging from Afghan-based sanctuaries.
