Amnesty International Calls Pakistan Airstrike on Kabul Rehab Center a Potential War Crime

Amnesty International has declared that the Pakistani airstrike on the ‘Omid’ addiction treatment center in Kabul on March 16 must be independently investigated as it may constitute a war crime.

According to the organization, investigations have found no evidence supporting the Pakistani military’s claim that the center was used for military purposes or for storing weapons and ammunition. Amnesty International emphasized that the attack violated fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including the principle of distinction between military targets and civilians and the special protection of medical facilities.

Isabel Lassay, Amnesty International’s South Asia director, described the incident as a “serious violation of international humanitarian law” and stated it may be subject to examination as a war crime. She urged the Pakistani government to conduct a transparent, independent, and impartial review of the decision-making process behind targeting the center and to publicly disclose the results.

Based on the organization’s findings, the Omid center had been providing medical services for over a decade and hosted more than a thousand patients at the time of the attack. Amnesty International also noted that no prior warning to evacuate the center was issued before the strike.

The report is based on the analysis of over 60 photos and videos, more than 30 satellite images, and statements from 11 witnesses, employees, and family members of the victims. While Pakistani officials had claimed the center was converted into a weapons and ammunition depot, Amnesty International stated that the review of the released images and remnants of munitions showed no signs of secondary explosions or the presence of stored weapons.

Previously, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that the attack killed at least 269 civilians and injured another 122. Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to prosecute all individuals responsible for the decision and execution of the attack under international law if sufficient evidence is available.