Devastation in Kabul: Flames of Conflict

Ahmad, a survivor of a Pakistani airstrike on a Kabul drug rehabilitation center, describes a 'doomsday' scene. Over 400 people died in the attack, which Pakistan claims targeted military sites. Survivors recall the devastation and efforts to recover bodies amidst the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Ahmad, aged 50, stood helpless as flames devoured his friends at a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, following a Pakistani airstrike. The Afghan Taliban government reported over 400 fatalities, while Islamabad denied targeting civilian facilities, claiming it focused on military sites.

Ahmad, a volunteer guard, was the sole survivor among his 25 roommates after the attack during Ramadan. Hospital staff described the scene as chaotic, with fire engulfing dormitories where patients lived in containers. Survivors owed their lives to sheer luck and structural protection.

When Reuters visited, blackened walls and debris bore witness to the tragedy, with remnants of personal belongings strewn around. Health officer Dr. Ahmad Wali Yousafzai recalled three significant blasts, while ambulance crews, like Haji Fahim, continue to retrieve bodies from the devastation.

(With inputs from agencies.)