Pakistan accused of war crimes over alleged civilian killings in Afghanistan

Incident in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province Sparks Tensions with Pakistan

A cross-border attack in Afghanistan’s Kunar province has left three civilians dead and 14 injured, according to officials from the Afghan government. The incident occurred on Monday and is being blamed on Pakistani forces by Kabul.

The attack targeted civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, a health centre, and mosques in Dangam, according to Hamdullah Fitrat, Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman. Islamabad has denied the allegations, stating that it does not target civilian areas.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suggested that the damage may have been staged by the Afghan government as part of a propaganda effort. The ministry pointed out inconsistencies in images released by Kabul, which they claim do not match artillery strikes.

Meanwhile, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are escalating. On Monday, one person was killed in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when security forces foiled a suicide attack at a checkpoint. Several others were injured during the incident.

Experts say that precision is a significant challenge for Pakistan in carrying out cross-border attacks. Effective intelligence is seen as crucial to minimizing collateral damage. The situation has worsened since the war on Iran began, according to Muhammad Amir Rana, Director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies.

The fragile ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan, brokered by China last month, is facing its latest test. Diplomatic efforts appear to be stalled, with both sides refusing to make concessions.

Source: Al Jazeera