US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged for an impartial investigation into potential war crimes following recent Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan. The HRW expressed serious concerns over civilian casualties resulting from the strikes. The organization emphasized the importance of independent probes into possible war crimes by both attacking and defending forces.
International humanitarian law mandates that warring parties must take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The HRW stated that attacking forces must always differentiate between civilians and combatants, targeting only military objectives. Defending forces, on the other hand, should protect civilians under their control from the effects of attack by avoiding placing military targets near densely populated areas.
Last month, Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan reportedly caused casualties among civilians, including women and children. The HRW mentioned that Pakistani authorities claimed the strikes targeted militants responsible for recent attacks on Pakistani security personnel in Karachi but provided limited operational details.
According to the HRW, cross-border attacks by Pakistani forces in the first three months of 2026 have resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 750 Afghan civilians, primarily due to airstrikes in eastern and southern Afghanistan. The organization also cited a UNAMA report documenting civilian casualties from Pakistani airstrikes in Kunar province.
