Afghan officials say a Pakistan cross-border strike in Dangam, Kunar province, killed three civilians and injured 14, calling the attack a "war crime." Pakistan denies the claim, suggesting images may have been staged and calling the allegations propaganda. The incident strains a China-brokered ceasefire agreed in April and follows months of deadly cross-border clashes. Separately, Pakistani forces foiled a vehicle-borne suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that left one person dead and several wounded.
Afghanistan Calls Pakistan's Cross‑Border Strike A 'War Crime' After Three Civilians Killed
Taliban soldiers sit next to an anti-aircraft gun while on lookout for Pakistan's fighter jets, in Khost province, Afghanistan [File: Reuters]
Afghanistan's Taliban-led government has accused neighbouring Pakistan of killing three civilians in a cross-border attack on Monday, condemning the incident as a "war crime." Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said on X that 14 others were injured and alleged that Pakistani forces deliberately struck civilian infrastructure in Dangam district, Kunar province — including homes, schools, a health centre and mosques.
Context
The incident comes amid a fragile ceasefire brokered by China in April following months of cross-border fighting that officials say left hundreds dead and wounded. Afghan authorities describe the latest strike as a serious breach that threatens the fragile lull in violence.
Pakistan's Response
Islamabad rejected the allegations. Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suggested the damage shown in photos released by Afghan authorities was inconsistent with artillery strikes and said the episode could be part of a "propaganda effort" aimed at discrediting Pakistan. Islamabad pointed to earlier cross-border incidents in March and April that it also blamed on its neighbour.
Related Security Incident
Late on Monday, Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province say they foiled a vehicle-borne suicide attack near the Afghan border. Officials reported that forces opened fire on a car laden with explosives bound for a military post; the vehicle exploded before reaching the target. One person was killed and several others were wounded.
"Precision is a real problem for Pakistan when it comes to its cross-border strikes. Effective and foolproof intelligence is the critical missing link — without it, controlling collateral damage becomes the central challenge. What we are also seeing is that Pakistan’s security situation has worsened considerably since the war on Iran began on February 28," said Muhammad Amir Rana, director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).
Rana added he saw little hope for a diplomatic breakthrough soon, saying Islamabad's growing diplomatic confidence makes it unlikely to offer concessions while Kabul sees little reason to yield.
Broader Allegations
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harbouring Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a Pakistani offshoot of the Afghan Taliban that has waged an insurgency against the Pakistani state; Kabul denies the accusation. The new allegations and denials underscore the deep distrust between the neighbours and the risks to a fragile ceasefire.
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