Amnesty says Pakistan air strikes on Kabul rehab center possible war crime
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Amnesty International released a new investigation on July 22 calling for Pakistan's March 16 air strikes on the Omid Rehabilitation Center in Kabul to be investigated as a possible war crime. The attack killed at least 269 civilians. The organization found no evidence to support Pakistan's claims that the facility was used for military purposes.
The Investigation
Amnesty International's investigation found that the air strikes violated the special protection afforded to healthcare facilities under international humanitarian law. The organization stated that the attack breached the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality designed to protect civilians. Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty's acting regional director for South Asia, said the attack reflected a major failure in military planning by Pakistan.
Civilian Casualties
The March 16 attack was part of a series of Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan since October 2025. Between January and March 2026, UNAMA documented more than 750 civilian casualties in Afghanistan, with 372 killed and 392 injured. On June 28, airstrikes in Paktya, Paktika, and Kunar provinces killed at least 28 civilians. In Pakistan, media reports indicate at least seven civilians have been killed by mortar shelling from Afghanistan.
Legal Obligations
Amnesty called on Pakistan to conduct a transparent, thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into the attack, especially the decision-making process that led to targeting the facility. Lassee urged that where sufficient evidence exists, competent authorities should prosecute any person suspected of criminal responsibility, including under the doctrine of command responsibility. She warned that failure to investigate serious violations risks entrenching impunity.
What's Next
Pakistan has not yet responded to Amnesty's call for an investigation. It remains unclear whether Islamabad will comply with international demands for accountability.
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Amnesty says Pakistan air strikes on Kabul rehab center possible war crime
