Amnesty International demands an independent probe into the March 16 airstrike that killed at least 269 civilians at a well-known drug treatment facility, calling it a blatant violation of international humanitarian law with no evidence of military use.

Amnesty International has published a new investigation calling for the attack on the Omid rehabilitation centre to be investigated as a possible war crime. The call comes four months after Pakistan air force trageted the Kabul drug rehabilitation centre on March 16, killing at least 269 civilians.

The airstrike occurred against the backdrop of heightened hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Tensions escalated dramatically in late 2025 and early 2026, with Pakistan launching “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq” in response to cross-border attacks by groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistani forces conducted multiple airstrikes targeting alleged militant hideouts in Afghan provinces, resulting in significant civilian casualties.

On March 16, 2026, Pakistani aircraft struck the Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre in Kabul, a sprawling facility on the site of the former NATO Camp Phoenix. Established in 2016 as a vocational training site for substance dependence treatment, it expanded post-2021 into a major 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation complex, complete with medical services from the adjacent Ibn-e-Sina Hospital. Public records, documentaries, and satellite imagery long confirmed its civilian medical role.

The Attack: Timing and Devastation

The strikes hit around 9 PM during Ramadan evening tarawih prayers, when over 1,000 patients were present. Precision-guided munitions, including Takbir bombs, devastated key areas: a large north-eastern hangar used for patient housing, kitchen, and dining; north-western structures; and south-western storage for essentials like coal, wood, and clothing.

Witnesses described horror: “Anywhere I stepped, there was a dead body,” one healthcare worker involved in evacuations recounted. Bodies were mangled beyond recognition; families searched hospitals and mass graves in vain for loved ones. UNAMA verified at least 269 civilians killed and 122 injured, though Taliban figures exceeded 400. Many victims were recovering addicts and staff.

Satellite imagery from March 13 showed numerous people on site; post-strike images on March 23 revealed heavy burning and destruction without visible craters consistent with secondary ammunition explosions.

Pakistan’s Claims vs. Evidence

Pakistani officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and military spokespeople, asserted the strikes targeted “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities” linked to Taliban militants and TTP threats. They cited drone footage showing strikes and claimed secondary detonations proved munitions storage. No civilian facilities were targeted, they maintained.

Amnesty International’s July 2026 investigation – analyzing 60+ photos/videos, 30+ satellite images, and 11 witness interviews – found no evidence supporting these claims. No weapons, ammunition, or secondary blasts were identifiable. Clear signage marked the site as a rehab centre, with extensive public documentation of its operations, including a 2023 Al Jazeera documentary.

“The attack on the Omid Centre constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law – possibly amounting to a war crime,” said Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia. It breached protections for medical facilities under the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality. No warning was issued despite the evident civilian risk.

Human Rights Watch echoed these concerns, labeling the strike unlawful.

Broader Context: Civilian Toll in Border Conflict

The Omid strike was part of a pattern. UNAMA documented over 750 civilian casualties in Afghanistan from Pakistani actions between January and March 2026 alone. Further strikes in June killed dozens more civilians in eastern provinces. Taliban responses included retaliatory actions, contributing to a cycle of violence.

Pakistan says it faces security threats from TTP militants using Afghan territory. Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of aggression; Pakistan demands Kabul curb cross-border terrorism.

Legal and Humanitarian Implications

Under international humanitarian law (IHL), medical facilities lose protection only if used for military purposes “harmful to the enemy,” with presumption of civilian status in doubt. Attacks require feasible verification, warnings, and proportionality assessments weighing civilian harm. Amnesty found Pakistan failed these obligations, given the site’s decade-long documented civilian use.

No independent Pakistani investigation has been detailed publicly. Amnesty contacted Pakistani authorities on July 9 without response by publication. Failure to probe risks normalizing impunity in the conflict.

Victims’ families demand answers and justice. One relative described uncertainty after failing to identify remains: the family reviewed forensic photos in vain.

International Response and Calls for Accountability

The strike drew global condemnation, highlighting risks to civilians in asymmetric border wars. UNAMA and rights groups urged restraint and investigations. As of July 2026, the incident remains a flashpoint, with Amnesty urging transparent probes, prosecutions where evidence warrants (including command responsibility), and adherence to IHL by all parties.

Breaking the Cycle

This tragedy underscores the human cost of unresolved Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions. Drug addiction remains a massive issue in Afghanistan, with facilities like Omid vital for rehabilitation amid economic collapse and conflict. Destroying such infrastructure not only kills immediately but undermines long-term recovery.

Amnesty says that Pakistan must prioritise precise intelligence and civilian safeguards. Afghanistan needs to address militant safe havens credibly. International actors, including the UN, should facilitate dialogue, support independent probes, and aid humanitarian efforts.

According to Amnesty, the Omid Centre attack is more than a military incident – it is a stark reminder of war’s indiscriminate toll on the vulnerable. Yhe human rights organisation says that without accountability, further unlawful operations and civilian suffering loom and that urgent, impartial investigation is essential to uphold international norms and honour the dead.