Kabul, March 30 — Human Rights Watch has called a Pakistani airstrike that struck a medical rehabilitation facility in Kabul on March 16 unlawful and warned it could amount to a war crime.
HRW said the strike hit the Omid drug rehabilitation centre, which treated hundreds of patients, and that available evidence indicates multiple buildings within the complex were struck, including patient housing and shared areas. The group said the majority of those killed or injured were civilians receiving treatment and urged Pakistani authorities to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation and hold anyone responsible to account.
Casualty figures are disputed. Afghan officials have said the attack killed more than 400 people and wounded over 250, while United Nations reports list lower confirmed numbers and ongoing investigations. Pakistan denies that it targeted civilians, stating its air operations were aimed at militant infrastructure and ammunition storage sites.
The strike has intensified tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which escalated in late February into a series of air and ground clashes. Islamabad accuses Afghan authorities of sheltering militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan blames for attacks inside its borders. Kabul rejects those allegations and considers militancy in Pakistan an internal issue. The recent violence has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, according to UN estimates.
International bodies and human rights groups have called on both countries to show restraint and to abide by international humanitarian law. Human Rights Watch reiterated that attacks on medical facilities are prohibited under international law and could constitute war crimes if civilians are deliberately or indiscriminately targeted. Governments and rights organisations have demanded accountability and stronger measures to protect civilians amid the cross-border fighting.
