Cross-border strikes kill seven as peace talks hang in balance
Cross-border strikes kill seven as peace talks hang in balance
Mortars fired from Pakistan hit a university and nearby homes in Afghanistan, killing seven and wounding 85 as fragile China-mediated peace talks struggle to hold.
Mortars and missiles fired from Pakistan struck a university and civilian homes in northeastern Afghanistan, killing seven people and wounding 85, Afghan officials said. Pakistan denied targeting a university, calling the Afghan reports a blatant lie.
The strikes come as the first major violence since Chinese-mediated peace talks were held earlier this month. Both sides had agreed not to escalate during a temporary truce declared for Eid al-Fitr, though fighting has flared anew amid accusations and counter-accusations of militant havens on both sides. Kabul has long accused Islamabad of harboring groups that have carried out attacks inside Pakistan, notably the Pakistani Taliban, a claim Pakistan disputes.
Mediators including China, and at times Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have pressed for de-escalation and resumed talks to stabilise the border region. The attack highlights how fragile the peace process remains and the high stakes for civilians living near the frontier.
The timing follows months of tit-for-tat violence after Afghanistan’s February cross-border operation into Pakistan and subsequent Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, which fueled a cycle of retaliation and complicated mediation efforts. International observers have warned that any further escalation could imperil a fragile path toward a lasting settlement.
