Pakistan rejects Afghan claims of strike on Kunar university

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information on Monday rejected Afghan media reports alleging that the Pakistan Army carried out missile or air strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, describing the claims as false and frivolous.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry’s fact-checking account shared an image from Afghan outlet TOLOnews carrying the claim that Pakistan had conducted missile or jet attacks on Kunar province on April 27, targeting Sayyed Jamaluddin Afghani University and nearby residential areas, killing three people and injuring 45.

The ministry dismissed the allegation and said the claim was aimed at deflecting attention from what it described as Afghan Taliban support for Fitna al-Khawarij, the term used by the Pakistani state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The ministry also said Pakistan’s operations were based on precise intelligence and denied that any strike had hit the university named in the Afghan reports. "Pakistan's targeting is precise and intelligence-based. No strike has been carried out at Sayyed Jamaluddin Afghani University. The claims are frivolous and fake." it said.

In a separate post on X, the ministry criticised what it called continuing propaganda about alleged strikes in Kunar. It accused Afghan media and officials of being supported by Indian propagandists and said such reporting followed a pattern of false reporting meant to conceal support for militant groups and proxies such as Fitna al-Khawarij. The ministry also said these reports were often amplified by Indian media.

"It indicates that the Afghan Taliban regime, having nothing to offer to its citizens in terms of service, welfare and governance, relies only on misinformation and hate. The only thing they have learnt from their Indian propaganda masters is lies and false flag operations. Such pathetic antics and vile accusations are absurd," the posty read.

Taliban allegations and Reuters account

According to Reuters, the Taliban government alleged that mortar and rocket attacks launched by Pakistan killed four people and injured 70 others, as fighting between the two countries flared again and threatened to affect fragile peace talks.

Reuters reported that Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat alleged that around 30 students, women and children were among those injured in the attacks, which he said targeted homes and the Syed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Asadabad, Kunar province.

The figures cited by Reuters differ from those carried in the TOLOnews image shared by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, which referred to three deaths and 45 injuries.

Operation Ghazab Lil Haq

The ministry said that under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, any future Pakistani strikes on militant infrastructure based in Afghanistan would be openly declared, fully owned and supported by precise evidence regarding the targets. Such operations, whenever and wherever carried out, would follow established procedures and the pattern of previously announced military action.

Reuters said the most serious fighting in recent years broke out between the two sides in February, including Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted terrorist strongholds. Islamabad has maintained that Kabul provides safe haven to militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan from Afghan soil. The Taliban has denied that allegation and says militancy in Pakistan is an internal matter.

China, which has been mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan, said earlier this month that during peace talks in Urumqi the two sides had agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to their dispute.

Last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced a temporary pause in the operation at the request of the brotherly Islamic countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Turkiye in view of the Eidul Fitr holidays. The operation resumed after Eid.