UN Expert Says Pakistani Attacks on Afghan Civilians May Constitute War Crimes

DID Press: Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has said Pakistani airstrikes that kill Afghan civilians may constitute war crimes and called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to examine the attacks.

Speaking to the BBC, Bennett said UN reports had documented civilian casualties, including women and children, in Pakistani attacks along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He called for full, independent and transparent investigations, stressing that victims and their families deserve accountability and justice.

Bennett also referred to a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul’s Omid drug rehabilitation centre on March 16, 2026, which killed at least 269 people, according to figures cited by Amnesty International. He said the ICC and independent investigative mechanisms could examine the incident.

Amnesty International UK+1Bennett noted that the UN Human Rights Council had not established a dedicated mechanism to investigate these specific incidents, while an existing independent investigative mechanism could potentially examine them. He said the decision on whether to investigate rests with the ICC.

The call comes amid continued cross-border violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan and growing concerns over civilian casualties and compliance with international humanitarian law. Pakistan has said its military operations target militant infrastructure, while rights groups have called for independent investigations into attacks that have killed civilians.