Kabul, March 25 (NationPress) Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, emphasized on Wednesday that UN experts are demanding immediate, independent, and transparent inquiries into the recent Pakistani airstrikes targeting a rehabilitation center in Kabul.

On March 16, Pakistan executed airstrikes on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and leaving many others injured.

Bennett further stated that this demand also advocates for a lasting ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adherence to international law, protection of civilians, and accountability for the actions taken.

"Our statement not only urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to agree to a permanent ceasefire but also calls for respect for international law, civilian protection, and accountability, initiated by prompt, independent, and transparent investigations of the incident at the Omid Rehab Facility in Kabul," Bennett shared on X.

UN experts stressed on Tuesday the need for both Pakistan and Afghanistan to declare a new ceasefire and strive towards a peace agreement, particularly in light of the renewed hostilities that began in late February following the breakdown of a ceasefire established in October 2025.

"We implore both Pakistan and the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to commit to a permanent ceasefire, address the fundamental causes of conflict, and ensure accountability for breaches of international law," the experts stated.

Since February 26, the experts reported that at least 289 civilian casualties have occurred in Afghanistan, including 76 fatalities and 213 injuries, with over 115,000 individuals displaced.

"Civilian infrastructure has suffered significant damage, impacting medical facilities, residences, markets, and locations for displaced persons. Educational institutions and borders have been shut down, and trade has been halted," the UN experts noted.

According to the experts, the Pakistani airstrike on March 16, which struck a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, likely resulted in extensive casualties.

"We condemn this strike, extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, and wish for a swift recovery for the injured," they concluded.

The experts urged all parties to adhere to international human rights law and humanitarian law, ensuring the safety of civilians and civilian property.

They called for immediate, independent, and transparent investigations into all alleged violations, holding perpetrators accountable, and providing remedies for victims in accordance with international standards.

The recent escalation of hostilities, the experts noted, followed Pakistani airstrikes on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps on February 21-22, retaliatory actions by Afghan authorities along the border on February 26, and a subsequent offensive by Pakistan on February 27 targeting multiple locations including Kabul and Kandahar.

"The attack by Pakistan on Afghanistan breaches the ban on the use of force under Article 2 of the United Nations Charter and customary international law. There is no right to self-defense unless the Taliban initiated an attack on Pakistan or dispatched the TTP to do so," the UN experts asserted.

"Pakistan has failed to provide credible evidence that TTP attacks within its borders were directed or controlled by the de facto Afghan authorities," they added.