Four people were killed and dozens injured in strikes reported by Taliban authorities, while Pakistan rejects the allegations amid fragile peace efforts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
At least four people were killed and 70 others injured in mortar and rocket fire that Afghan authorities attributed to Pakistan on Monday, according to officials from the Taliban-led government, as renewed violence threatened to disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts between the neighboring countries.
Taliban officials said the attacks struck residential areas and Syed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province. Among those injured were approximately 30 students, as well as women and children, according to deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.
“We strongly condemn these attacks by the Pakistani military regime, in which ordinary people, academic, and educational institutions were targeted, and declare them unforgivable war crimes,” Fitrat said in a statement posted on X.
Pakistan’s government rejected the allegations, calling them false. The country’s information ministry said in a statement that no strike had been carried out on the university and described the claims as “frivolous and fake.” The Pakistani military did not immediately provide further comment.
The exchange of accusations follows a period of escalating tensions between the two countries, which have shifted from cooperation to open conflict in recent months. The most intense fighting in years broke out in February, when Pakistan conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, saying it was targeting militant bases.
Islamabad has maintained that armed groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan operate from Afghan territory, a claim denied by Taliban authorities, who have said that security issues within Pakistan are domestic in nature.
Earlier clashes have resulted in significant casualties. Taliban officials previously reported that more than 400 people were killed in a Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, an account disputed by Pakistan, which said its operations targeted military sites and militant infrastructure. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan later estimated the death toll from that incident at 143.
Diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities have been underway, with China mediating talks between the two sides. Earlier this month, both countries agreed during discussions in Urumqi to explore broader solutions to their conflict.
Despite those efforts, sporadic violence has continued. Security officials reported that three people were killed on April 18 in Pakistan’s Bajaur region following mortar fire attributed to Afghan forces.
The latest incident underscores ongoing instability along the border, as both governments continue to trade accusations while attempting to maintain momentum in peace negotiations.
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