At least four civilians were killed and around 70 others were wounded, including dozens of university students, in Pakistani strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, Taliban deputy spokesman said in a statement.
The strikes targeted areas in Kunar province, including the provincial capital, Asadabad, and parts of Manogai district, Hamtullah Fitrat said.
About 30 students were among the wounded, and civilians, including women and children, were also affected, he said.
Among the sites hit was the Faculty of Education at Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University, as well as residential homes, the statement said. The attacks began around 2 p.m. local time.
Taliban condemned the strikes as a “war crime,” accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians and educational institutions. Pakistani officials have not commented on the strikes that happen after days of pause in clashes between the two sides.
The strikes come amid a renewed surge in tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. Fighting has intensified since Sunday night, including clashes in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province, where Taliban forces and Pakistani troops engaged in multiple exchanges since late Sunday.
The escalation follows a week of talks between the two sides earlier this month in China aimed at easing border tensions. The discussions ended without a clear agreement, leaving core disputes unresolved.
Cross-border violence between Taliban forces and Pakistan has continued for more than two months, driven in part by Pakistan’s claims that militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, operate from Afghanistan’s territory. Taliban have denied the accusations.
The United Nations has warned of a growing toll on civilians. More than 70 civilians were killed in eastern Afghanistan during the first two weeks of recent clashes, according to UN figures. In one of the deadliest incidents, Pakistani airstrikes on March 16 struck the Omid rehabilitation center, killing 269 people, UN figures show.
Residents in affected areas have described repeated shelling and fear, with families forced to flee their homes during periods of intensified fighting.
