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The United Nations called Tuesday for a swift and independent investigation after Afghan authorities said a Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation clinic in Kabul killed hundreds of people.
“Last night’s tragic blast at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, that reportedly left scores of patients dead, must be investigated promptly, independently and transparently,” U.N. rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva.
He called for those responsible to be “held to account in line with international standards” and said the findings should be made public.
“Victims and victims’ families are entitled to reparations,” he added.
Afghan officials said about 400 people were killed in the strike, which they described as the deadliest incident in recent violence between the two neighbors.
Hundreds more were reported wounded after the facility was hit Monday night, flattening buildings used to treat people with drug addictions.
There was no immediate independent verification of the toll, though AFP reporters saw dozens of bodies recovered from the site.
The European Union called for “maximum restraint” from both sides following the strike.
“The attack on a medical facility in Kabul constitutes a new and deadly escalation in a conflict that must end as soon as possible,” European Commission spokesman Anouar el-Anouni said in Brussels.
“We call on both parties to exercise maximum restraint and to take all possible measures to minimise the risk of harm to civilians,” he added.
Pakistan denied deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.
“No hospital, no drug rehabilitation centre, and no civilian facility was targeted,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X.
“The targets were military and terrorist infrastructure,” he added.
Afghan officials gave varying casualty figures, with one health ministry spokesman reporting around 400 deaths and more than 200 wounded, while the interior ministry cited 408 killed and 265 injured.
An Italian NGO said it received several bodies and was treating dozens of wounded but expected the toll to rise.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it had confirmed at least 76 civilian deaths between Feb. 26 and Monday, before the clinic strike.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk called for an “immediate ceasefire.”
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Kheetan stressed that “under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian objects are strictly protected.”
“The laws of war clearly spell out that any attack must comply with the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions,” he said.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the recent escalation had affected at least six health facilities in Afghanistan.
“I urge all parties to de-escalate and prioritise peace and health,” he said. “Peace is the best medicine.”
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