Amnesty International Raises Concerns Over Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul Drug Rehabilitation Center

Pakistani fighter jets struck the 'Omid' drug rehabilitation center, formerly part of Camp Phoenix, in east Kabul on the night of March 16, 2026. The attack was one of several carried out on parts of the city that night.

Amu TV reports at least 200 people were killed and dozens wounded at the center, most of them civilians and patients.

Amnesty International expressed serious concerns that the strike likely violated international humanitarian law by failing to adequately protect civilians. Isabelle Lassée, the organization's deputy regional director, stated that while the total number of casualties has not been independently verified, the attack caused a significant number of deaths and injuries among civilians, at least around hundreds.

Lassée noted that the site has operated as a drug rehabilitation center since 2016. She said the Pakistani army should have taken all possible precautionary measures to protect civilians and civilian objects, and conducted a proportionality assessment, even if an ammunition depot was present inside the camp.

"Any reasonable assessment and intelligence gathering would have concluded that this camp had a high presence of civilians," Lassée said.

Amnesty called on Pakistani officials to explain the intelligence and verification measures used, and to conduct an independent, impartial and timely investigation into the incident and civilian casualties, then publicize the results to ensure accountability. The organization urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians and infrastructure, including medical centers.