KABUL, March 27: Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group, has strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul’s Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, calling them “an unlawful attack” and warning they could constitute a war crime.
The March 16 strike targeted the 2,000-bed facility, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many others, including patients breaking their Ramadan fast. One block housing adolescents receiving drug treatment was completely destroyed, according to the United Nations.
HRW emphasized that there is no evidence the hospital was being used for military purposes, making the attack indiscriminate and disproportionate, and potentially a serious violation of the laws of war.
Patricia Gossman, HRW’s senior associate Asia director, urged Pakistan to conduct a swift and impartial investigation, determine why the hospital was targeted, and hold those responsible accountable. The organization stressed Pakistan’s obligations under international law to investigate alleged war crimes and ensure justice.
HRW also highlighted broader civilian impacts, citing UN figures that report at least 76 civilian deaths and 213 injuries from Pakistani airstrikes across Afghanistan in February.
The group called on the international community to pressure Pakistan to improve intelligence, target verification, and decision-making processes to prevent future attacks on civilian facilities and protect noncombatants. (IANS)
