Harsha Kakar
kakarharsha@gmail.com
Pakistan claimed it has run out of patience and declared ‘open war’ on Afghanistan on 27th Feb, claiming it was retaliating to the Taliban targeting its posts along the Durand Line. Pak called it Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (Operation Righteous Fury), in near similarity with Trump’s Epic Fury in Iran. Pak, aware that its military is far more powerful and that Afghanistan lacks air defence and an air force, hit multiple locations in Afghanistan employing air strikes. In one such strike, it destroyed the Omid drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul killing over 400 innocent civilians.
As expected, Pakistan refused to acknowledge the strike, instead claiming that the hospital was blown up by the Taliban, whereas it had hit an ammunition dump. The Pakistan statement read that it, ‘precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.’ However, videos emerging from Afghanistan as also eye witness reports quoted by global media were different. Even UN representatives were aghast by the attack and demanded accountability. The fact is that no aggressor ever admits to having erred in its actions, unless pressured.
This is not the first time Pakistan has hit civilian targets in Afghanistan. Just a few days ago it killed six civilians in Kabul in an airstrike while earlier on 21-22 Feb, 13 innocents were killed. Most of Pakistan’s strikes have been supposedly against military bases, though in reality they are civilian locations resulting in killing of innocents. Pakistan refuses to investigate nor admit its mistakes, believing its actions as justified.
The targeting of the Omid drug rehabilitation centre is near similar to the targeting of the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, an all-girls school in Minab, Iran, at the commencement of the conflict, by the US. Over 160 were killed, most being children. The school was hit by a Tomahawk missile and was located close to a military base. Trump tried to ward off the blame by accusing Iran of being behind the incident, despite Tehran not possessing any Tomahawk missiles. Subsequently, the Pentagon ordered an investigation into the incident. Knowing the US and its history of investigations, nothing will emerge. The dead will be ignored and the incident is already vanishing from global scrutiny.
Current wars, including Russia-Ukraine, Iran and Afghanistan-Pak are beginning to move towards civilian targets, assuming that there would be no criticism nor action against the perpetrators. Russian strikes into Ukraine as also the reverse are leading to more civilian casualties than military. In the Iranian conflict, both US and Israel claim they are only hitting military bases but collateral damage results in far more civilian deaths. Similarly, Iranian retaliation in Middle East nations and Israel, though aimed at military or US diplomatic infrastructure is causing civilian casualties.
Gaza was another area where civilian deaths, including children, far exceeded those of members of Hamas. Levels of destruction have been such that rebuilding would take immense funds and time, even if it does happen. Few nations demanded accountability from Israel and even approached the International Criminal Court which issued multiple arrest warrants, with no results.
Shortage of food, water and medical supplies added to miseries of the Gazan populace and many were pushed close to starvation. A near similar scenario of destruction is emerging in Lebanon. In all these conflicts, the attacker will not be involved in the reconstruction.
On the contrary, when India targeted Pakistan’s terrorist camps in the initial phase of Operation Sindoor, it ensured no collateral damage, despite some camps being located adjacent to religious institutions and civilian houses. Even in the subsequent assault when Pak air, radar and missile bases were targeted civilian casualties were avoided. On the other hand, Pakistan’s missiles and drones were aimed at residential colonies rather than military targets.
India played by the rules, ensuring civilian casualties were avoided, while most tend to ignore them. The US has always believed that ‘might is right’ and it can act as it desires. It did the same in earlier conflicts, whether Afghanistan, Iraq or even as far back as Vietnam. Same has been the case with Israel which believes collateral damage is justifiable against terrorist strikes. Pakistan, which criticizes Israel for its actions in Gaza is now repeating the same in Afghanistan. Akin to the US and Israel it denies responsibility and refuses to even investigate.
What emerges is that if the national leadership is irresponsible and refuses to lay down firm guidelines, the armed forces too would act in a similar manner. On the contrary, if checks by the leadership are imposed and directions issued, subsequent operations are carefully planned. For the Pakistan army, used to suppressing its populace, there is no distinction between innocents and enemy combatants.
While India criticized Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan by terming the attack as ‘cowardly, barbaric and reckless,’ there was largely silence from the rest of the world including Middle East Muslim nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. On the contrary, most western and Middle East nations criticized Israel’s attack on a Gaza hospital which resulted in civilian casualties, despite Israel providing proof of Hamas tunnels being below the hospital.
Pakistan and the US’s actions constitute war crimes. As per Geneva conventions, civilians, hospitals, and residential areas are not legitimate targets despite being possible military objectives. The US has ordered an investigation, while Pakistan refuses to even do so. India must take the lead and approach the International Criminal Court seeking arrest warrants for the failed marshal and Pakistan’s top military leadership. Simply criticizing the strikes will not be enough. Unless global pressure is applied, Pakistan would continue targeting civilians in Afghanistan with impunity.
The author is Major General (Retd)
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