On March 17, (NationPress) Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur focused on human rights in Afghanistan, voiced his profound concern regarding reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which have led to significant civilian casualties. He called for both Afghanistan and Pakistan to promptly de-escalate tensions, adhere to maximum restraint, and uphold international law, particularly the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure like hospitals.

Bennett's remarks follow reports from Afghan officials indicating that a Pakistani airstrike targeted the 2,000-bed Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital located in the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul, resulting in at least 400 fatalities and injuring 250 individuals.

In a post shared on the social media platform 'X,' Bennett expressed, "I am deeply troubled by ongoing reports of airstrikes from Pakistan in Afghanistan and the ensuing civilian toll. My sympathies are with those affected. I strongly urge all parties to de-escalate, exercise utmost restraint, and respect international legal frameworks, including the safeguarding of civilians and essential facilities like hospitals."

Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior spokesperson, Abdul Matin Qane, issued a stern warning that the nation will execute a "teeth-breaking response" to the deadly Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul.

Qane emphasized that recovery operations were underway on Tuesday, as emergency teams diligently searched for bodies beneath the debris, as reported by Afghanistan-based Ariana News.

He articulated that Afghanistan views this latest Pakistani aggression as a significant escalation and cautioned of retaliatory measures. "Such attacks cannot remain unanswered," he asserted, reiterating that Afghan authorities interpret the incident as a breach of their nation’s sovereignty, according to Ariana News.

This incident signifies a marked escalation in the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have escalated in recent weeks due to a series of airstrikes, artillery confrontations, and mutual accusations.

Afghan officials have condemned what they describe as Pakistan's military operations within Afghanistan, particularly in the eastern and southeastern regions.

In recent days, authorities in Afghanistan have reported that various strikes and shelling incidents have resulted in casualties and infrastructure damage. Meanwhile, Islamabad claims that its operations target militant factions utilizing Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan.