Afghan political figures submit protest letter to UNAMA over Pakistani military strikes

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- A group of Afghan political figures, university professors, civil activists and tribal elders submitted a protest letter to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kabul on Monday over recent attacks by Pakistani forces on Afghanistan.

The letter highlights a strike on March 16 by Pakistani forces on a drug treatment center in Kabul's 9th police district, which it says killed 400 people and injured 250 others. It also refers to the facility as a 2,000-bed drug treatment hospital.

The signatories claim Pakistan's military has conducted attacks in various parts of Afghanistan before and after the March 16 incident, causing civilian casualties.

The letter calls for strong condemnation by the United Nations, its member states and international human rights organizations of Pakistan's aerial and ground attacks. It urges prevention of any future aggressive actions and emphasizes respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

It demands an impartial investigation by international organizations into the March 16 airstrike and referral of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and involved military personnel to the International Criminal Court for war crimes. The signatories also seek compensation for families of those killed or injured.

The protesters stressed that Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for its internal security issues or use Afghan territory against any country. They called on Pakistan to halt projects that fuel regional instability and abandon the use of terrorism as a policy tool.