India, Pakistan must take all necessary steps to protect civilians: Amnesty

KARACHI: India and Pakistan must take all necessary measures to protect civilians and minimise any suffering and casualties in both countries, stressed the Amnesty International on Thursday.

It also called on the governments of both countries to uphold their obligations under both international human rights and humanitarian law.

“As forces from both countries are now engaged in open hostilities, Amnesty International insists that neither security nor justice will be achieved with the senseless loss of more civilian lives,” said Carolyn Horn, Programme Director for Law and Policy at Amnesty International. Carolyn Horn said: “The escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan has already taken a toll on civilians. Amnesty International is concerned by reports of loss of civilian lives in both India and

Pakistan.

“In every armed conflict, protecting civilians is paramount— it’s a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law which binds all nations.

Deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks harming civilians or damaging civilian infrastructure such as homes, hospitals, schools, and essential services, are strictly prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols and under customary international law.

“We extend our condolences to the families on both sides of the border who have lost their loved ones and borne the devastating cost of the current escalation in what has been a long-standing conflict. We unequivocally condemn the deliberate targeting and unlawful killing of civilians by armed groups during the horrific attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22nd April and call for an independent, transparent and thorough investigation to bring the suspected perpetrators of the atrocity to account through fair trials, without recourse to the death penalty.”