UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, on Friday, 22 May, reiterated his call for a full and independent investigation into Pakistan's airstrike on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul, which killed at least 269 civilians on 16 March 2026. Bennett's renewed demand came in direct response to a statement posted on X by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which published updated figures on cross-border civilian casualties.

What Bennett Said

In a post on X, Bennett wrote: “The 16/3 attack by Pakistan at Omid Drug Rehab Hospital Kabul where UNAMA verified 269-plus civilians killed demands a full, independent investigation. Deliberate attacks on civilians or civ objects may amount to war crimes. I also urge Taliban to ensure safety of patients in such facilities.”

The statement marks the second time Bennett has publicly pressed for accountability over the strike, underscoring growing international concern that no independent inquiry has been initiated more than two months after the incident.

Scale of the Kabul Strike

According to UNAMA's cross-border civilian casualties update covering January–March 2026, three Pakistani airstrikes hit the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Hospital at the conclusion of tarawih evening prayers on 16 March, when numerous patients were leaving the mosque. The strikes killed at least 269 people—all male—and injured a further 122, including one woman. The vast majority of victims were patients receiving treatment for drug dependency.

UNAMA noted that its findings were based on a site visit and discussions with eyewitnesses, lending the casualty count a higher degree of verification than many conflict-zone figures.

Broader Civilian Toll of Cross-Border Violence

The UNAMA update, released on 12 May, documented at least 372 Afghan civilians killed and 397 injured between 1 January and 31 March 2026 due to cross-border violence between the Pakistani military and Afghan forces. The Human Rights Service of UNAMA recorded over 750 civilian deaths and injuries in total from cross-border armed violence during the same period.

The majority of casualties were concentrated in February and March, after Pakistan announced the launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on 26 February. More than half of all casualties in the period are attributed to the 16 March hospital strikes alone.

Among the total civilian casualties, UNAMA recorded 72 women, 554 men, 48 girls, and 95 boys. Notably, women and children had comprised over half of recorded casualties prior to the Omid Hospital strike; because the facility housed only male patients, that demographic breakdown shifted significantly after 16 March.

How the Casualties Were Caused

Airstrikes accounted for 64 per cent of civilian casualties, while cross-border firing—including mortars and artillery—caused 34 per cent, according to the UNAMA report. The findings point to a sustained and escalating pattern of aerial bombardment rather than isolated incidents.

What Comes Next

Neither Pakistan nor the Taliban administration has publicly committed to an independent investigation. Bennett's call, backed by verified UNAMA data, increases pressure on the international community to formally demand accountability. Human rights organisations are expected to cite the UNAMA figures in upcoming UN Human Rights Council sessions. The absence of a credible inquiry mechanism in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan remains a significant structural obstacle to justice for victims and their families.