Amnesty International has released a new report calling for an investigation into a March 16 airstrike by the Pakistani military that devastated a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, killing at least 269 civilians. The human rights organization asserts that the attack may amount to a war crime, citing a lack of evidence to support Pakistan’s claims that the Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Center was being used for military purposes, such as storing weapons or ammunition.
Isabelle Lassee, acting regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International, described the incident as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. According to Lassee, the strike reflects a major failure in military planning, noting that the site had functioned as a medical facility for over a decade. She emphasized that Pakistan failed to meet its obligations to verify the nature of the target, and called for a transparent, independent, and impartial investigation into the decision-making process that authorized the strike. Amnesty further urged that, where evidence exists, those responsible should be held accountable, including under the doctrine of command responsibility.
The investigation involved the analysis of over 60 photos and videos—including footage previously released by the Pakistani military—as well as more than 30 satellite images and verified videos documenting the center's operations prior to the attack. Amnesty researchers also conducted 11 interviews with former and current staff from the Omid Center and the neighboring Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, as well as family members of victims and individuals present during the subsequent evacuation efforts.
This incident is part of a broader escalation in cross-border hostilities between the Pakistan military and the Taliban that began in October 2025. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) data indicates that between January and March 2026, over 750 civilian casualties occurred in Afghanistan, with 372 deaths and 392 injuries. Additional airstrikes on June 28 in Paktya, Paktika, and Kunar provinces resulted in at least 28 more civilian deaths. While consolidated figures for Pakistan are unavailable, reports suggest at least seven civilians have died due to mortar shelling from Afghan territories.
On July 9, Amnesty International reached out to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking details regarding the investigation into the targeting error and evidence supporting claims that the facility was a weapons store. No response has been provided as of the publication of the report.
