KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A coalition of Afghan and international civil society groups expressed deep concern over escalating violence between Pakistan and the Taliban, warning that civilians, particularly women and children, are bearing the heaviest burden of the conflict.
In a joint statement on Thursday, dozens of organizations and activists said the recent fighting is deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis and called for an immediate halt to attacks that put civilian lives at risk. They urged all parties to protect civilians and essential infrastructure, including homes, schools, and hospitals.
“For decades, war has been imposed on Afghanistan and its people,” the statement said. “These cycles of violence have not brought safety, stability, or justice. Instead, they have devastated communities, displaced families, and entrenched suffering, particularly for women and children, who continue to bear the heaviest burden.”
The groups also warned about a “growing normalization of war” in public discourse, including within diaspora and exile communities. “We firmly reject all narratives that justify or glorify war, especially those that target civilians,” the statement said, adding that “there is no version of war that serves the people.”
The coalition highlighted Pakistani airstrikes on Omid Addiction Rehabilitation Hospital in Kabul on March 16, which reportedly caused mass casualties, with hundreds killed or injured. “Attacks on civilians, medical facilities, medical personnel, and vulnerable patients are a breach of international humanitarian law and are strictly prohibited and must not go without accountability,” the statement said.
The groups said communities already under restrictions imposed by the Taliban are now being pushed deeper into crisis. They warned that urgent needs, including access to medical care, housing, and financial support, risk being overlooked as violence continues.
“Women, children, marginalized communities, and vulnerable groups must be at the center of humanitarian efforts,” the statement said, calling for aid to reach affected populations without obstruction. It also urged civil society, media, and diaspora communities to reject narratives that justify violence, citing the long-term harm caused by decades of conflict.
Signatories include Afghan and international organizations such as Afghan Canadian Women for Global Corporation, Rawadari, Femena, the Civil Society and Human Rights Network, Women in Black Against War, and activists including former lawmaker Shinkai Karokhail.
Pakistan and the Taliban, once allies, have clashed repeatedly along the border in recent months after Islamabad accused the Taliban of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) responsible for dozens of deadly attacks inside Pakistan. UN figures indicate at least 289 civilians were killed or injured in Pakistani airstrikes across several provinces since late February, before the Kabul strike.
On March 16, Pakistani airstrikes hit a drug rehabilitation center in the eastern part of Kabul, killing at least 143 people according to the UN, while the Taliban reported 400 killed and 250 injured. UN agencies and rights groups have called for an independent investigation.
A temporary ceasefire was announced on Wednesday for the Eid al-Fitr holidays following requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Efforts to secure a permanent halt to hostilities have so far failed, with Pakistan saying it will continue operations against militant groups operating from Afghanistan.
