UN mission puts death toll at 143 in Kabul rehab center bombing by Pakistan

PHOTO CAPTION: An Afghan man cries after learning of a relative's death at the site where a drug rehabilitation center was destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani airstrike, in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 18, 2026. (REUTERS/Sayed Hassib)

KARACHI  -  The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has put the death toll at 143 in the bombing of a Kabul drug rehab centre by Pakistan, an official told Reuters on Wednesday. 

The Afghan Taliban government had said more than 400 people were killed and 265 injured in the air strike on Monday night.

Pakistan has rejected the Afghan Taliban claim that it targeted a drug rehab centre saying it "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure". 

 (Reporting by Ariba Shahid, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh // REUTERS)