7 Killed in Missile Attack on Afghan University; Islamabad Denies Allegations

Officials in Afghanistan claim that at least seven people were killed after mortar and missile fire, allegedly launched from Pakistan, struck a university and civilian homes in the northeastern part of the country. Another 85 people were reportedly injured in the attack.

Afghan government deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated that Monday’s mortar and missile strikes damaged the city of Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, as well as other areas within the province.

Najibullah Hanafi, the director of information and culture in Kunar, confirmed the death toll of seven, with 85 others wounded. He noted that the injured include women, children, and students from Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University.

The Afghan Ministry of Higher Education reported that approximately 30 students and several professors were among those injured in the attack on the university campus.

Sahatullah, a 22-year-old laborer who was at the hospital with his young nephew, said, "My nephew was playing outside when a mortar shell landed and hit the area."

Zamarai Kunari, a 40-year-old teacher at the same hospital, confirmed that one of his relatives was killed and others were injured. "I brought my injured brother here," he said. "He was wounded by shelling while going out to fetch my uncle."

While acknowledging that operations took place, Pakistan has denied allegations of targeting the university. Pakistani officials dismissed Afghan media reports and government statements regarding the university strike as "blatant lies."

The Pakistani Ministry of Information stated that their targeting is precise and based on intelligence data. They asserted that no attack was carried out on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University and described the claims as baseless and false.

This incident marks the first major outbreak of violence since China-mediated peace talks between the two sides earlier this month.

Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of harboring the militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad maintains that its strikes specifically target.

The TTP is a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban but remains an ally. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. forces, Kabul has repeatedly denied Pakistan's allegations of providing them sanctuary.

Previously, the Taliban government claimed that a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul on March 17 killed more than 400 civilians. In retaliation, Afghan forces launched counter-attacks along the border. Two days into that conflict, both sides declared a temporary ceasefire for the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

In early April, Afghan and Pakistani officials met in Urumqi, western China, where they agreed to de-escalate the conflict.

(Source: The Guardian)