In a bold move amid escalating border conflicts, Amnesty International has demanded a full-scale independent inquiry into Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. The attacks, unfolding over February 21-22, have left a trail of civilian devastation, prompting urgent calls for justice.
Eyewitness accounts and official reports paint a grim picture: Pakistani jets struck at night in Nangarhar’s Bahsood and Khogyani areas around 11:15 PM, killing 13 civilians—including vulnerable women and children—and injuring seven more. Further assaults in Paktika targeted a school and mosque in Bermal district, while a home in Orgun was obliterated by afternoon.
Amnesty expressed profound alarm, stating that such civilian tolls necessitate ‘in-depth, independent, and impartial investigations.’ The group renewed its plea to all involved parties to safeguard innocents under international humanitarian law, a responsibility repeatedly flouted.
Historical context amplifies the outrage. Just months ago, UNAMA attributed 70 civilian fatalities and nearly 500 injuries to Pakistani military actions during intense Taliban-Pakistan skirmishes on the Durand Line. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry fired back, accusing Pakistan of sovereignty violations, aggressive posturing against good neighborly principles, and Islamic values.
Labeling the strikes as symptomatic of Pakistan’s security shortcomings, Kabul warned of retaliatory measures. UNAMA joined the chorus, denouncing the bombings and advocating for an end to enmity to shield civilians from harm.
As Afghanistan grapples with these incursions—framed by Kabul as habitual aggression—the stakes rise. Will global pressure force transparency, or will the cycle of violence continue unchecked?