Pakistan missile strike on Kunar university injures 30, Afghanistan condemns attack
Synopsis
Pakistani military forces reportedly struck a functioning university in Afghanistan's Kunar province while classes were in session, injuring up to 48 people including students, women, and children. Afghanistan's government and an international rights body have condemned the attack as a potential violation of international humanitarian law — and a continuation of a troubling pattern of cross-border violence in Kunar.
Key Takeaways
Pakistani military forces struck Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in Kunar province on Monday, 28 April 2025 .
Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education said nearly 30 students and professors were injured and university infrastructure was extensively damaged.
The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) cited local sources placing total affected individuals at as many as 48 , including civilians, women, children, and students.
Local medical facilities reportedly received dozens of injured and several deceased, according to the IHRF.
Afghanistan's Minister of Higher Education Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem directed authorities to ensure prompt medical care for the injured.
The IHRF called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation and full accountability under international humanitarian law.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education on Monday, 28 April strongly condemned a missile strike by Pakistani military forces on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in Kunar province, stating that the attack injured nearly 30 students and professors and caused extensive damage to the institution's infrastructure. The strike, which reportedly hit while classes were in session, has drawn sharp international censure.
Ministry's Condemnation
In an official statement, Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education denounced the strike as
Point of View
Which explicitly prohibits strikes on civilian educational infrastructure. What makes this incident particularly significant is the pattern it fits into: the IHRF notes previous cross-border strikes in Kunar have similarly resulted in civilian deaths. Pakistan has not publicly responded to the specific allegations, leaving a dangerous accountability vacuum. The international community's silence on Pakistan-Afghanistan cross-border violence has historically emboldened repeat incidents, and this strike may test whether that silence continues.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in Kunar?
Pakistani military forces reportedly launched a missile strike on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in Kunar province on Monday, 28 April 2025, while classes were in session. The strike injured nearly 30 students and professors, according to Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education, and caused extensive damage to the university's infrastructure.
How many people were affected by the Kunar university strike?
Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education cited nearly 30 injured students and professors. The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF), citing local sources, placed the figure at as many as 48 individuals, including civilians, women, children, and university students. Local medical facilities reportedly also received several deceased individuals.
How did Afghanistan's government respond to the strike?
Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education condemned the attack as 'cowardly, ruthless, and contrary to all Islamic and international principles.' Minister of Higher Education Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem directed authorities to ensure prompt treatment for the injured, and the Ministry urged international organisations not to remain silent over the incident.
What does international humanitarian law say about striking universities?
Under international humanitarian law, all parties to a conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between civilian and military targets at all times. Attacks directed against civilians or civilian infrastructure — including educational institutions — are strictly prohibited. The IHRF invoked these provisions in its condemnation of the Kunar strike.
Is this the first such cross-border strike in Kunar province?
No. The IHRF noted that the incident 'reflects a troubling pattern of cross-border violence in Kunar Province,' where previous strikes have reportedly resulted in civilian deaths, including among women and children, and damage to essential civilian infrastructure.
