New Delhi, Apr 28: Fresh cross-border tensions have flared between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Kabul alleging that Pakistani mortar and missile strike killed seven civilians and injured at least 85 in Kunar province, according to a report by the BBC.
Afghan officials said the strikes on Monday hit civilian homes and the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Asadabad, marking the first major violence since China-mediated peace talks earlier this month, reports the Guardian newspaper. Women, children and students were among those injured, officials added.
However, Pakistan rejected the allegations. As reported by The Guardian citing international news agencies, Pakistani authorities dismissed claims of a university strike as a “blatant lie,” asserting that its operations were “precise and intelligence-based.”
The latest incident threatens to unravel fragile diplomatic efforts following talks held in Urumqi under Chinese mediation, where both sides had agreed to avoid escalation. It also comes after months of intense hostilities, with both nations accusing each other of cross-border aggression and support for militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The conflict had briefly subsided during a truce around Eid al-Fitr but has since seen sporadic flare-up despite involvement from multiple international mediators including China, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to bring peace in the area. According to the United Nations, the prolonged conflict has already displaced tens of thousands, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region.
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