Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over Amnesty International’s recent report, stating that it ignored key evidence regarding the airstrikes carried out in Afghanistan on March 16 and 17 and instead relied on the Taliban’s version of events.
Operation Based on Credible Intelligence
According to Pakistan, the air operation was conducted on the basis of credible intelligence. The intended target was an alleged drone workshop and weapons storage facility located at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, not a medical center.
Questions Raised Over the History of Camp Phoenix and Omid Center
Pakistan said Camp Phoenix was established in 2003 as a NATO military base, while the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center was set up in 2010 in a section of the same compound. According to Pakistan, the old rehabilitation center was closed after the new Omid Hospital was established in 2016.
Old Barracks Were Being Used by Taliban Personnel
Pakistan stated that at the time of the operation, the barracks of the old Omid Center were being used as accommodation for around 350 personnel of the Taliban’s Qata Yarmook unit, while the actual targets were nearby drone storage facilities and workshops.
According to Pakistan, secondary explosions and the resulting fire caused by stored ammunition after the strike damaged the old barracks, leading to the deaths and injuries of Taliban personnel present there.
Contradictions in Casualty Figures
Pakistan said the Taliban initially claimed that 408 civilians had been killed and 165 injured. However, it added that contradictions later emerged even in the casualty figures released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Report Prepared Without Independent Verification
Pakistani authorities said Amnesty International included Taliban claims in its report without conducting an independent and comprehensive investigation, raising questions about the report’s impartiality.
Such Reports Could Benefit Terrorist Groups
According to Pakistan, reports prepared without establishing the facts could encourage terrorist groups by allowing them to move their facilities and weapons into civilian-populated areas.
Pakistan’s Concerns Over Taliban Activities
Pakistan said the Taliban administration is relocating drones and sensitive weapons into civilian areas, warning that one-sided reports could reinforce such practices.
Also Read: Amnesty International Became a ‘RAW Propaganda Arm’ Against Pakistan
