Calls are mounting for an independent investigation into Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul, as political figures and international observers raise concerns about civilian casualties and potential violations of international law.
Former President Hamid Karzai condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and warning of security consequences.
“Such actions will not achieve their intended goals and will ultimately harm Pakistan itself,” Karzai said, urging Islamabad to reconsider its policies and engage with Afghanistan based on good-neighborly relations.
Former head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, described the strikes as a clear violation of international law and said they were unjustifiable.
Other former officials, including ex-Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar, former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil, and Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires to the United Nations Naseer Ahmad Faiq, also condemned the strikes and called for an independent investigation, including by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Human rights groups and UN officials also voiced concern.
A researcher with Human Rights Watch called for a thorough investigation, saying civilian facilities should never be targeted.
UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett said he was “deeply concerned” by reports of civilian casualties and urged all parties to exercise restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and medical facilities.
India condemned the reported strikes, describing them as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a threat to regional peace.
In a statement, India’s External Affairs Ministry called the attack “a cowardly and unconscionable act of violence” and warned that continued Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan could destabilize the region.
The reported strikes, which Taliban officials say targeted a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, come amid conflicting accounts about the incident.
Taliban say the attack killed about 400 people, while Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts and denies striking civilian infrastructure.
Kabul residents said the airstrikes damaged homes and disrupted daily life, with some describing fear and uncertainty following the explosions.
The strikes are part of escalating Taliban-Pakistan clashes, which have entered their 20th day. Pakistani forces have carried out air and artillery attacks in several provinces, while Taliban say they have responded with cross-border and drone strikes.
The United Nations has warned that the conflict is increasingly affecting civilians, reporting that at least 73 have been killed and over 190 others wounded in recent weeks.
