Mortars and missiles fired from Pakistan struck a university and civilian homes in north-eastern Afghanistan on Monday, killing seven people and wounding at least 85, according to Afghan officials. The attack was the first major violent incident since Chinese-mediated peace talks between the two sides earlier this month.
The strikes hit the city of Asadabad, capital of Kunar province, and other areas. Afghan deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the wounded included women, children and students at Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University. The higher education ministry reported about 30 students and professors were injured.
Pakistan dismissed the reports as “a blatant lie”. Its information ministry insisted that targeting is precise and intelligence-based, and that no strike had been carried out on the university, calling the claims “frivolous and fake”.
The incident underscores the fragile nature of peace efforts. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been embroiled in deadly fighting since late February, when Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes. Islamabad declared open war, accusing Kabul of harbouring the Pakistani Taliban. Kabul denies the charge.
Talks in Urumqi, China, had produced an agreement not to escalate, with China, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia involved in mediation. At a hospital in Asadabad, residents recounted the attack: a 22-year-old labourer said his nephew was wounded playing outside, and a teacher said his brother was wounded and a relative killed. The UN said the conflict has displaced 94,000 people.
