Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan Of Killing Three Civilians In ‘War Crime’

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out cross-border strikes that hit civilian areas in the eastern province of Kunar , killing three people and injuring at least 14, in what officials described as a “war crime” amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours.

Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the strikes damaged key civilian infrastructure, including two schools, two mosques and a health centre , intensifying fears among residents already living under prolonged conflict. He condemned the attack as part of a broader pattern of assaults on civilian and educational sites in recent weeks.

Pakistan swiftly rejected the allegations, calling them “baseless” and asserting that the visual evidence presented by Kabul does not match artillery damage. Islamabad instead pointed to earlier cross-border firing incidents from Afghan territory that killed nine civilians, including women and children, in Bajaur district.

The latest incident is not isolated. Over the past several weeks, similar strikes in Kunar have reportedly killed and injured civilians, including students, and damaged institutions such as Syed Jamaluddin Afghani University , prompting repeated Afghan claims of war crimes .

The conflict traces back to late February, when Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting suspected militant hideouts, triggering retaliatory action from Kabul and sparking one of the most intense phases of fighting in decades.

At the core of the dispute is Pakistan’s allegation that Afghanistan shelters militants from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) , responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the charge, insisting the violence stems from Pakistan’s internal security failures.

Despite China-mediated peace talks in April that aimed to de-escalate tensions, clashes have continued at a lower intensity, raising concerns about the durability of the fragile truce.

The broader humanitarian situation is also deteriorating. Reports indicate that thousands of civilians, including refugees, are increasingly affected by border closures, displacement, and insecurity, with many stranded in uncertain conditions along crossing points.