A devastating airstrike on a rehabilitation centre in Balochistan has killed 269 Afghan refugees, prompting the British government to call for an urgent, independent inquiry. The attack, which Pakistan claims targeted militant hideouts, instead levelled a UNHCR-registered facility housing displaced families. Witnesses described scenes of ‘carnage’ as rescue workers pulled bodies from rubble, many of them women and children.

The UK’s Foreign Office condemned the strike as a ‘grave violation of international law’ and insisted on transparency. This incident underscores the perilous nexus of counterterrorism operations and civilian protection, a tension that grows more acute as AI-driven targeting systems become widespread. The need for digital sovereignty—where nations own their data and algorithms—has never been more urgent.

Without it, such ‘mistakes’ will only multiply. The international community must act now to demand accountability and prevent future tragedies.