The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has called for a thorough and independent inquiry into Pakistan’s bombing of the Omid Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul. The airstrike, which occurred in March, resulted in the deaths of over 269 individuals. Bennett’s appeal follows the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s disclosure of cross-border casualties in the region.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul on March 16, leading to the deaths of numerous civilians and injuries to many others. In a social media post, Bennett emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the attack, highlighting the potential war crimes involved in deliberate assaults on civilians or civilian structures. He also urged the Taliban to ensure the safety of patients in similar facilities.
Recent reports from the UNAMA reveal that between January 1 and March 31 of this year, at least 372 Afghan civilians lost their lives, with 397 sustaining injuries due to cross-border conflicts involving the Pakistani military and Afghan forces. The UNAMA’s Human Rights Service documented over 750 civilian casualties in Afghanistan resulting from armed violence between Afghan security forces and the Pakistani military, with a significant number occurring during airstrikes in February and March.
The majority of civilian casualties were recorded following Pakistan’s initiation of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26. The report indicates that more than half of these casualties were a result of the March 16 airstrikes by Pakistani military forces on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul. The UNAMA update highlights that women and children accounted for a substantial portion of civilian casualties until the hospital attack, after which the demographic composition shifted due to the facility primarily housing male patients.
Airstrikes were responsible for 64% of civilian casualties, while cross-border firing, including mortars and artillery, accounted for 34% of the harm inflicted. The airstrikes on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital, a center for treating drug-affected individuals, caused significant destruction to the facility’s structures. The attacks, occurring after evening prayers, claimed the lives of at least 269 individuals, predominantly male patients, and left 122 others injured, including one woman.
