On Monday, mortars and missiles fired from Pakistan struck a university and civilian homes in northeastern Afghanistan, resulting in seven deaths and at least 85 injuries, according to Afghan officials [1]. The attack targeted the city of Asadabad, the capital of Kunar Province, as well as other areas in the province, with the wounded including women, children, and students at the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University [1]. Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, however, denied targeting the university and dismissed Afghan media reports and official statements as 'a blatant lie' [1].
These strikes represent the first major violent incident since Chinese-mediated peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan earlier in April, where both sides had agreed not to escalate their conflict and to 'explore a comprehensive solution,' according to China's government [1]. The attacks highlight the fragile nature of the peace efforts, as sporadic cross-border fighting had continued even during the talks [1].
The recent violence follows months of deadly fighting since late February, when Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Islamabad had declared it was in open war with Afghanistan, escalating tensions and drawing international concern [1]. The fighting had largely subsided in March after a temporary truce for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which followed a deadly Pakistani airstrike on March 17 on a drug treatment facility in Kabul that Afghanistan claimed killed more than 400 civilians—a figure Pakistan disputes [1].
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants, particularly the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies these allegations [1]. Multiple countries, including China, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, have been involved in mediation efforts between the two sides [1].
CONCLUSION
The latest Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan, resulting in significant civilian casualties, underscore the volatility and fragility of the peace process despite recent mediation efforts. The incident is likely to heighten regional tensions and draw further international attention to the ongoing conflict.