Afghanistan - March 2026

On 16 March, a Pakistani military airstrike hit the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, amid escalating cross-border hostilities. The United Nations said the strike impacted a protected medical facility and recalled that attacks on hospitals and civilian facilities are prohibited under international law. Human Rights Watch reported that at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 injured, mostly patients, and said the attack was apparently unlawful and could constitute a war crime. Pakistan acknowledged carrying out airstrikes in Kabul but maintained that it had targeted military infrastructure. Rights experts called for an impartial investigation and accountability.

Update: In May, the United Nations verified at least 269 civilian deaths and 122 injuries, while noting that the actual death toll was likely higher. A July investigation by Amnesty International found no evidence to support Pakistan’s claim that the facility had been used for military purposes or that an effective warning had been issued. Pakistani authorities continued to reject allegations that the strike unlawfully targeted civilians.

*Since the impact of these events are felt primarily in Afghanistan, they are coded in the entries for the latter. While they are not coded for Pakistan, it is Pakistani action that causes the effects on democracy in Afghanistan.

Sources:  Human Rights Watch, United Nations, BBC News, Dawn, Amnesty International