Leading human rights organization Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, labeling it a possible “war crime.” The airstrikes, which occurred on March 16, targeted the 2000-bed medical facility in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of at least 269 civilians and numerous injuries. Amnesty International emphasized that the attack violated international Humanitarian Law and the principles safeguarding healthcare facilities.
The Acting Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, Isabelle Lassee, denounced the strike as a severe breach of international humanitarian law, potentially amounting to a war crime. She criticized Pakistan for failing to verify whether the target was a military objective, leading to a significant loss of civilian lives. Lassee stressed the urgent need for a transparent and impartial investigation into the attack, including the decision-making process that led to targeting the medical facility.
Amnesty International’s investigation, conducted by open-source investigators and weapons experts, indicated that the Pakistani military strike on the Omid health facility was not a legitimate military target under international humanitarian law. The organization highlighted that the evidence presented by Pakistan did not refute the conclusion that the attack caused harm to civilians and civilian objects. The attack was part of a series of airstrikes by the Pakistan military in Afghanistan amid escalating hostilities with the Taliban.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented over 750 civilian casualties in Afghanistan between January and March 2026, with a significant number of fatalities and injuries. Recent Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghan provinces resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, prompting calls for impartial investigations into possible war crimes by international human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch also expressed grave concerns over civilian casualties in the wake of Pakistan’s strikes in Afghanistan.
