ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information ministry on Monday dismissed as “fake” some Afghan media reports of Pakistani strikes on a university and residential areas in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have been locked in a conflict since Feb., with both sides repeatedly engaging in cross-border clashes as well as conducting artillery, air and drone strikes against the other in their worst fighting in decades.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of providing safe havens for militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban. The group is separate but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban. Kabul denies the allegation.
Amid ongoing hostilities, Afghanistan’s TOLOnews reported Pakistani military had conducted attacks on Kunar province that targeted Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University and residential areas, killing 3 people and injuring 45 others.
“No strike has been carried out on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University. The claims are frivolous and fake,” the Pakistani information ministry said, adding that Islamabad’s strikes have been precise and based on intelligence.
“The pattern is a page of the old play book where Afghan media creates fake news to cover up the support to terrorist groups and proxies like the Fitna al Khwarij (Pakistani Taliban).”
The latest fighting, which has killed hundreds of security forces, civilians and militants on both sides, upended a Qatari-mediated ceasefire in October that had halted earlier clashes between the neighbors.
China, which shares its western border with both nations, has for weeks been trying to mediate the conflict between the neighbors. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye have also attempted to defuse tensions, but the fighting has continued.
Pakistan’s military this month said it would continue strikes against militants, who wage attacks against Pakistan from the Afghan soil, until complete elimination of their “safe havens.”
