Kabul: Amnesty International has published a detailed investigation urging a probe into the Pakistan military’s air strikes on the Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre in Kabul, which resulted in the deaths of at least 269 civilians. The organization has labeled the attack a potential war crime, citing violations of international humanitarian law and a lack of evidence supporting Pakistan’s claims that the site was a military target.
According to Amnesty International, there is no substantiation for the assertion by the Pakistan military that the facility was being used to store weapons and ammunition. The organization asserts that the air strikes breached the protection afforded to healthcare facilities under international law, highlighting a failure in military planning that resulted in significant civilian casualties. Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia, emphasized the need for a transparent and thorough investigation and possible prosecution under the doctrine of command responsibility.
The attack on March 16 was part of a series of air strikes by Pakistan’s military amid escalating hostilities with the Taliban. UN reports indicate a high civilian toll from these strikes, with over 750 casualties documented in Afghanistan between January and March 2026. Amnesty International’s analysis included satellite images, witness testimonies, and video footage, none of which validated Pakistan’s claims of the center being used for military purposes. Despite Amnesty’s inquiries, the Pakistani government has not responded with evidence to support its justification for the strike.
The Omid Centre, established in 2016, served as a treatment facility for drug dependence. Amnesty International’s investigation found that the site was clearly marked as a medical facility and that the attack, conducted during the holy month of Ramadan, left no opportunity for evacuation. The organization has called on Pakistan to respect international humanitarian law and cautioned against the risk of impunity leading to further unlawful operations.