Human Rights Watch Criticizes Pakistan’s Airstrikes in Afghanistan, Calls for Investigation

The Human Rights Watch organization has deemed Pakistan’s air and artillery attacks on Afghan territory illegal, urging for an independent international investigation into potential war crimes. This comes as Kabul firmly rejects Islamabad’s security claims, labeling these actions as blatant violations of its territorial sovereignty…

​Rising Civilian Casualties and Urgent Calls for Accountability

In light of increasing civilian casualties along the border and in parts of Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch issued an official statement strongly condemning recent airstrikes by the Pakistani military. This respected international organization highlighted the evidential reports provided by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and called for the establishment of an impartial commission to investigate the legal ramifications of these attacks and identify possible war crimes. UNAMA’s documented findings indicate that during the airstrikes on the provinces of Kunar, Paktia, and Paktika, dozens of civilians, including defenseless women and children, have been killed or injured. While Pakistani military officials claim their operations target armed militants, international organizations and eyewitnesses have refuted these assertions, emphasizing the civilian nature of the casualties.

​Humanitarian Crisis at the Hope Medical Center and Border Bombardment

A significant portion of Human Rights Watch’s concerns focuses on the deadly attack on the Hope treatment center for addiction patients in Kabul. Technical and field investigations reveal that this center had no military utility or armed presence, and targeting it constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law. International law experts have labeled this attack as one of the most ruthless border military actions of the year, resulting in heavy casualties among defenseless patients.

Simultaneously, reports from Kunar province reveal further dimensions of this humanitarian crisis. Continuous artillery and air attacks have not only resulted in fatalities among families and young children but have also led to the closure of vital infrastructure, including dozens of health centers, thereby completely disrupting local access to essential healthcare services.

​Diplomatic Tensions and UN’s Rejection of Islamabad’s Claims

Islamabad officials have repeatedly claimed that these attacks are responses to the actions of militants using Afghan territory against Pakistan’s interests. However, the current regime in Kabul denies these allegations, considering Pakistan’s security issues a completely internal matter and emphasizing that no groups will be allowed to exploit its territory.

On the other hand, the United Nations has also confirmed in its monitoring reports that, to date, no credible evidence has been presented by Pakistan indicating that internal armed attacks are directed or organized from Kabul.

Ultimately, Human Rights Watch is calling on the international community to respond decisively, urging all conflicting parties to unequivocally adhere to the principles of distinguishing between military and civilian targets. The organization stresses that ongoing indiscriminate bombings without legal justification will have severe repercussions for regional stability and the international commitments of the perpetrators. Afghanistan’s protests against these airstrikes are a clear indication of the rising tensions as civilian death tolls continue to surge.