At least four people were killed and around 70 others injured after mortar and rocket fire struck eastern Afghanistan on Monday.

The reported attacks hit residential areas and Syed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province. Authorities said many of the injured included students, women, and children.

Islamic Emirate spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, calling the strikes “unforgivable war crimes.”

“We strongly condemn these attacks by the Pakistani military regime, in which ordinary people and educational institutions were targeted,” Fitrat said in a statement.

However, Pakistan’s government rejected the allegations outright, describing them as “a blatant lie.” Officials denied that any strikes had been carried out on the university, calling the claims “frivolous and fake.”

The Pakistani military has not issued a detailed response to the latest accusations.

The incident comes amid fragile efforts to ease tensions between the two neighboring countries, which have seen periodic clashes along their shared border.

Relations deteriorated sharply earlier this year following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, which Islamabad said targeted militant groups operating from Afghan territory. Kabul has repeatedly denied harboring such groups, insisting that security issues inside Pakistan are domestic in nature.

Last month, tensions escalated further after Afghan authorities claimed that a Pakistani strike hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, causing significant casualties. Pakistan denied targeting civilians, stating that its operations were aimed at militant infrastructure.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan later reported a death toll of 143 from that incident, underscoring the severity of recent confrontations.

China has been attempting to mediate between the two sides. Earlier talks held in Urumqi reportedly resulted in an agreement to explore a broader resolution to the conflict.

Although large-scale hostilities had subsided following those discussions, sporadic clashes have continued. Just days earlier, three people were reportedly killed in mortar fire in Pakistan’s Bajaur region, which Pakistani officials attributed to Afghan forces.

The latest exchange of accusations highlights the fragility of the current situation, with both sides maintaining sharply conflicting narratives over recent incidents.

Analysts warn that continued skirmishes could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts and risk pushing the region toward a broader escalation, unless both parties commit to de-escalation and sustained dialogue. (ILKHA)