Human Rights Watch Condemns Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul Drug Rehabilitation Center as ‘Illegal’
Human Rights Watch has described Pakistan’s recent airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul as “illegal” and warned that the incident could constitute a war crime. The organization emphasized that existing evidence indicates the target was a civilian medical facility.
According to international sources, the attack on March 16 targeted the “Omid” drug rehabilitation center located in the former Phoenix Camp area in eastern Kabul. Reported information states that at least 143 people were killed and over 250 others were injured, most of whom were patients undergoing treatment.
Patricia Gossman, the Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch, stated that the evidence shows the attack targeted a known medical center, resulting in the deaths of dozens of patients. She added that authorities must clarify why the site was targeted and who should be held accountable.
An employee of the center, who spoke to Human Rights Watch, reported that three buildings—including the dining hall, the residential building housing hundreds of patients, and a protective checkpoint—were destroyed in the attack. At the time of the strike, more than a thousand patients were present at the center, many gathered for iftar during the month of Ramadan.
Human Rights Watch, citing satellite images and visual evidence, said large portions of the complex were either completely destroyed or severely damaged. The organization noted that there was no indication of any military use of the medical facility.
Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities enjoy special protection, and parties to a conflict are obligated to distinguish between military targets and civilians and civilian objects. The organization stressed that attacks lacking such distinction or causing disproportionate civilian casualties may constitute serious violations of the laws of war.
Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistan to conduct an immediate, impartial, and thorough investigation into the incident and to prosecute those responsible if violations are confirmed.
