Pakistan strikes Afghanistan university, 7 killed and 85 injured in fresh escalation

At least seven people were killed and 85 others injured after Pakistani forces launched mortar and missile strikes in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province, hitting civilian areas including a university, Afghan officials said.

The strikes targeted multiple locations, including the provincial capital Asadabad and surrounding districts. Among the sites hit was the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University, where students and faculty were caught in the attack.

Afghan authorities said the wounded included women, children and students, with around 30 students and professors injured in the university strike alone. The attack also caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure on campus.

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan condemned the strikes, calling them a “provocative act” and accusing Pakistan of targeting civilian areas. Officials described the incident as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Pakistan, however, has denied targeting civilian infrastructure, maintaining that its operations are aimed at militant groups operating along the border.

The latest escalation comes weeks after both countries engaged in China-mediated peace talks aimed at reducing tensions following months of cross-border violence. The current strike is being seen as the first major breach since those discussions.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering militants linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim the Afghan government has repeatedly denied.

The renewed violence underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire efforts and raises concerns about further escalation along the volatile border region, where repeated clashes in recent months have resulted in civilian casualties and displacement.