Amnesty Calls For War Crimes Investigation Into Pakistan Airstrike On Kabul Rehab Centre
Amnesty International has urged the international community to investigate a Pakistani airstrike that struck a major drug rehabilitation centre in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, describing the attack as a possible war crime under international humanitarian law.
The human rights organisation published the findings of a detailed investigation into the 16 March 2026 strike on the Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, a 2,000 bed medical facility that had been providing addiction treatment for thousands of patients. Amnesty said its researchers found no evidence supporting Pakistan's claim that the site was being used for military purposes or to store weapons and ammunition.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the airstrike killed at least 269 civilians and injured 122 others, although Afghan authorities have claimed the true death toll was considerably higher. UN officials said the actual number of casualties could exceed the verified figures as investigations continue.
Amnesty's investigation was based on analysis of more than 60 photographs and videos, satellite imagery, military footage, and interviews with current and former employees of the rehabilitation centre, nearby medical staff, and witnesses. The organisation concluded that the attack violated the special protections granted to healthcare facilities under international humanitarian law and failed to meet the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution designed to protect civilians during armed conflict.
Pakistan has consistently rejected allegations that it targeted a medical facility. Islamabad maintains that its military struck terrorist infrastructure and military facilities, arguing the operation was carried out in self defence following a rise in cross border militant attacks that Pakistan attributes to armed groups operating from Afghanistan.
Following Amnesty's report, Pakistan again dismissed calls for a war crimes investigation, describing the allegations as baseless and insisting its armed forces had acted lawfully. Pakistani officials said the country's operations comply with international law and urged the international community to hold the Taliban authorities accountable for allowing militant groups to operate from Afghan territory.
The incident remains one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since fighting escalated between Afghanistan and Pakistan earlier this year. Human rights organisations continue to call for an independent international investigation to determine accountability and establish whether international humanitarian law was breached during the strike.
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