Story perspectives

Pakistani Mortar Strikes Kill 4, Wound 70 at Kunar University

4/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Pakistani mortar and rocket strikes hit a university in Kunar province, killing at least four people and wounding about 70.
The Taliban government described the attacks as grave, inexcusable war crimes.
Pakistan’s information ministry rejected the allegations, saying the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure and labeling the Taliban’s claims fabricated propaganda.
Extensive damage hit the university’s buildings during a fragile China-mediated ceasefire, leaving about 30 injured students.

History

Historical Context

Decades of border incursions set the stage for Pakistan’s 1999 shelling of Afghanistan’s Khost, which killed 42 civilians and damaged $3.2 million of school infrastructure, breaching the China-brokered ceasefire. Earlier incidents—such as the 1984 Afghan jet bombing Pakistan’s Teri Mangal (32 dead) and 1985 Pakistani rockets striking Kunar—show a pattern of reciprocal violations that continues to destabilize the frontier.

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Story summary

Pakistani mortar and rocket strikes hit a university in Kunar province, killing at least four people and wounding about 70.
The Taliban government described the attacks as grave, inexcusable war crimes.
Pakistan’s information ministry rejected the allegations, saying the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure and labeling the Taliban’s claims fabricated propaganda.
Extensive damage hit the university’s buildings during a fragile China-mediated ceasefire, leaving about 30 injured students.

1 / 2