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At least seven people have been killed and 75 injured in what Afghan officials describe as Pakistani jet and drone attacks on the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, with university students and a professor among the casualties, according to multiple sources who spoke to the BBC. The Taliban government says 30 of the injured are students at Kunar University. Pakistan has denied responsibility for the attack, with its information ministry calling the reports "fake."

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the incident draws from two primary outlets: Al Jazeera and the BBC. Al Jazeera's coverage centers on the personal accounts of Afghan students who described the moment a missile hit their university, with officials blaming Pakistan for Monday's attack. The outlet notes that Pakistan denies responsibility, though it has previously accused Taliban leaders of harboring anti-Pakistan fighters.

The BBC's reporting takes a broader view, detailing the attack itself, the casualties, and the immediate denials from both the Taliban government and Pakistan's information ministry. The BBC also provides essential context, referencing a previous Pakistani airstrike in Kabul that killed 269 people, according to the UN, and noting that cross-border fighting between the two countries has killed or injured hundreds in recent months.

Key claims

  • At least seven people were killed and 75 injured in the attacks on Kunar province, according to multiple sources cited by the BBC.
  • Among the injured are students and a professor at Kunar University, with the Taliban government stating that 30 of the injured are university students.
  • Pakistan's information ministry denied attacking the university and residential areas, describing the reports as "fake."
  • A prior Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul killed 269 people, according to the UN, as reported by the BBC.
  • Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has resulted in hundreds of casualties in recent months, per BBC reporting.
  • A fragile ceasefire had largely held after Chinese mediation, which led to talks in Urumqi in early April, according to the BBC.
  • Afghan students described the moment a missile hit their university, with officials blaming Pakistan, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Taliban government

The Taliban government, which controls Afghanistan, has denied attacking the university and residential areas. A statement from Afghanistan's higher education ministry said the university's buildings and surroundings had suffered extensive damage. The government's account emphasizes the civilian toll, particularly the number of students injured.

Pakistan

Pakistan's information ministry has categorically denied the reports, calling them "fake." Historically, Pakistan has said its airstrikes target militant hideouts in Afghanistan, a position that remains consistent with its denial of striking civilian sites. Pakistan has also been operating as a mediator in the Iran-US war, which may complicate its regional posture.

International observers

The UN has documented the civilian impact of Pakistani airstrikes, including the Kabul drug rehabilitation centre attack that killed 269 people. The broader context of cross-border violence, and the fragile ceasefire brokered by China, highlights the ongoing tensions and the difficulty of preventing civilian casualties in such conflicts.