Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Cross-Border Strike Killing Three Civilians

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has accused Pakistan of conducting a cross-border strike that killed three civilians and injured fourteen others in the Dangam district of Kunar province. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy government spokesman, condemned the incident as a war crime and stated that the attack targeted civilian infrastructure.

Islamabad has denied the allegations. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting dismissed the claims as staged propaganda, asserting that the reported damage does not align with typical artillery strikes. The ministry suggested that Kabul orchestrated the scene to generate international attention.

The exchange of accusations comes amid heightened cross-border tensions and directly tests a fragile ceasefire brokered by China in April. Diplomatic relations between the two neighbors have been strained by persistent security concerns. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghan authorities of providing safe haven to militants affiliated with the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, a charge that Kabul has consistently denied.

In a separate security incident reported on the same day, Pakistani security forces thwarted a suicide vehicle attack at a checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing one individual.

Independent verification of the Kunar incident remains unavailable, with both governments maintaining conflicting narratives regarding the origin of the damage. The situation underscores the ongoing volatility along the shared border despite recent diplomatic efforts to de-escalate hostilities.