Displaced International Joins UNAMA, the UN Special Rapporteur, and NRC in Calling on Pakistan to End Airstrikes Harming Afghan Civilians
Displaced International joins the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s Statement on Civilian Casualties, the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, and the statement of Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, in expressing grave concern over civilian casualties resulting from Pakistan’s airstrikes in Paktya, Paktika, Kunar, and other affected areas across Afghanistan.
DI calls on Pakistan to immediately cease airstrikes and all military actions that kill, injure, or endanger civilians, including women and children, and damage homes, livelihoods, and civilian infrastructure. Such actions risk deepening displacement, aggravating humanitarian needs, and further destabilizing communities already devastated by decades of conflict.
Pakistan must fully uphold its obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, precaution, accountability, and the protection of civilians. DI urges Pakistan to pursue durable solutions through credible mediation, de-escalation, dialogue, and regional cooperation.
DI further calls for a full, independent, and impartial investigation under United Nations auspices into the reported civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Upon the conclusion of such an investigation, and where civilian harm or violations are established, Pakistan must ensure accountability and provide prompt, adequate, and effective reparations to the families of innocent civilians killed or injured, as well as to communities whose homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure have been destroyed.
“Civilians are never a target,” said Ambassador Ashraf Haidari, President of Displaced International. “This is especially true in Afghanistan, where ordinary people have endured decades of imposed conflicts, proxy wars, and geopolitical rivalries fueled by Afghanistan’s neighbors and external actors. Afghan civilians must not continue to pay with their lives for the failures of peace, diplomacy, and responsible state conduct.”
DI extends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed, wishes a full and swift recovery to the injured, and urges the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, regional states, and humanitarian actors to press for de-escalation, independent investigation, accountability, reparations, and urgent protection for affected communities.
