Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of University Strike Killing Seven

Afghanistan accused Pakistan of launching cross-border attacks that killed seven people and wounded at least 85 in Kunar province on Monday. The strikes targeted Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University and nearby civilian homes, according to The Guardian. Afghanistan's Taliban authorities reported extensive damage to the university buildings and grounds.

Pakistan's information ministry denied the accusations, calling them 'a blatant lie' and asserting that no strike was carried out on the university. However, Pakistan did not explicitly rule out any attack within Afghan territory.

The attacks marked a significant escalation following recent peace talks mediated by China in Urumqi earlier this month. The two nations had agreed not to escalate their conflict, but Monday's strikes highlighted the tenuous nature of these efforts.

The Guardian reported that Afghan deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed the attack on Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province. Najibullah Hanafi, director of Kunar Information and Culture, stated that seven people were killed and 85 wounded, including women, children, and students.

The attacks come amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been embroiled in months of deadly fighting since late February. The conflict has displaced over 94,000 people overall according to the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan reported by The Guardian. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants that carry out attacks inside Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Afghan and Pakistani officials have separately confirmed to Al Jazeera that the two sides have been exchanging fire along their porous border, even though they are formally observing a ceasefire. Kunar is a border province.