Former Afghan Prosecutor Calls for ICC Intervention Over Pakistan Airstrikes

DID Press: Mohammad Farid Hamidi, Afghanistan’s former attorney general, labeled recent Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces as “crimes against humanity,” urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene. He described the attacks as “blind and reckless,” resulting in widespread civilian casualties, including women and children.

Hamidi held Pakistan’s political and military leaders directly responsible, while criticizing the Taliban for “ineffective policies” and weakening Afghanistan’s defensive structures, leaving civilians vulnerable.

Pakistan, in contrast, asserts that its military carried out a “targeted operation” along the Afghan border, killing approximately 70 members of extremist groups including ISIS-K, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Fateh al-Khawarij, as a response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu. Islamabad claims the operation was based on precise intelligence.

Taliban officials reject these claims. Zabiullah Mujahid described the strikes as a “clear violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty,” asserting that Pakistan targeted civilian areas. The Taliban’s defense ministry warned it would respond “at an appropriate time.”

The airstrikes have provoked criticism from former Afghan political figures, who accuse Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty and the Taliban of failing to protect its citizens.