Kabul, March 30: Hundreds of Afghans residing abroad held protests in London and Oslo over the weekend against the Pakistan military’s attacks in Afghanistan that have caused civilian casualties, local media reported on Monday.

Protesters in London marched through central streets and shouted slogans against Pakistan’s strikes and urged the international community to take immediate action, Afghanistan’s Ariana News reported.

Protesters spoke about the worsening security situation along the Durand Line, warning that repeated shelling risks further destabilising already fragile communities and demanded independent investigations and greater international pressure to stop escalation.

At the same time, members of the Afghan community in Oslo gathered outside the Norwegian Parliament to condemn Pakistan’s attacks and demand accountability.

Protest organisers said that a formal resolution was submitted to Norwegian authorities, the United Nations, and the International Criminal Court and immediate steps were sought to stop the violence and ensure the protection of civilians, Ariana News reported.

The protests were held as tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated following clashes, airstrikes and artillery exchanges along the Durand Line.

According to Afghan officials, the latest attack occurred in Kunar province on Sunday. Local officials said that one person was killed and 16 others were injured after Pakistani forces launched rocket and heavy weapon attacks on residential areas in Kunar province. The shelling hit areas near Asadabad and nearby homes, sparking fears of a wider border escalation.

Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that the attack targeting civilian homes occurred at around 5 p.m. (local time) on Sunday. He said that injured people were rushed to the hospital for treatment, Afghanistan’s news agency Khaama Press reported. He accused Pakistan of firing in residential areas near the border.

The latest attack comes days after fighting resumed along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border after the collapse of a brief Eid ceasefire. Islamabad has said its military operations are targeting militants using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, a claim rejected by the Taliban.

Kabul, March 30: The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) has urged Pakistani forces to stop attacks on civilian areas in Afghanistan and respect international law. Calling firing on residential areas “war crimes”, the IHRF urged the United Nations and international human rights organisations to investigate the violations and take action against those responsible.

Citing reports, the IHRF said Pakistani forces have fired heavy weaponry and indiscriminate mortar rounds into residential areas in Afghanistan’s provinces, including Paktika, Khost, and Kunar and targeted civilians.

In a statement on X, the IHRF stated, “According to reports, Pakistani forces have fired heavy weaponry and indiscriminate mortar rounds into civilian-populated areas in the provinces along the so-called Durand Line, including Paktika, Khost, and Kunar. These attacks have directly targeted civilians and their homes. Thus far, at least 17 civilians, including women and children, have been injured in these assaults. The use of heavy weapons has compelled numerous families to flee their homes, heightening fears of an emerging humanitarian crisis in the region.”

“Psychological and material damage: Attacks on residential properties and agricultural lands have caused substantial financial losses to local communities and have spread widespread fear across the area. Under international human rights and humanitarian law, particularly the Four Geneva Conventions parties to an armed conflict are required to clearly distinguish between military and civilian targets. Indiscriminate or blind attacks on residential areas that endanger civilian lives constitute clear war crimes. We call upon Pakistani forces to immediately cease attacks on civilian areas and to respect international law. We urge the United Nations and international human rights organisations to investigate these violations and take appropriate action against those responsible,” it added.

The IHRF urged humanitarian organisations to provide urgent assistance to families displaced by the conflict or those whose members have been injured. It said that the lives of innocent people, especially women, must be protected during times of conflict and termed safeguarding human dignity and adhering to human rights principles essential under all circumstances.

Meanwhile, local Afghan officials said that one person was killed and 16 others were injured after Pakistani forces launched rocket and heavy weapon attacks on residential areas in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

The shelling hit areas near Asadabad and nearby homes, sparking fears of a wider border escalation.

Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that the attack targeting civilian homes occurred at around 5 p.m. (local time) on Sunday. He said that injured people were rushed to the hospital for treatment, Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. He accused Pakistan of firing in residential areas near the border.

The latest attack comes days after fighting resumed along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border after the collapse of a brief Eid ceasefire. Islamabad has said its military operations are targeting militants using Afghanistan to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, a claim rejected by the Taliban.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to airstrikes, artillery fire, and accusations from both sides.

Kabul, March 30: One person was killed and 16 others were injured after Pakistani forces launched rocket and heavy weapon attacks on residential areas in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, local media reported on Monday, quoting officials.

The shelling hit areas near Asadabad and nearby homes, sparking fears of a wider border escalation.

Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that the attack targeting civilian homes occurred at around 5 p.m. (local time) on Sunday. He said that injured people were rushed to the hospital for treatment, Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. He accused Pakistan of firing in residential areas near the border.

The latest attack comes days after fighting resumed along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border after the collapse of a brief Eid ceasefire. Islamabad has said its military operations are targeting militants using Afghanistan to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, a claim rejected by the Taliban.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to airstrikes, artillery fire, and accusations from both sides.

Meanwhile, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan said on Saturday that the Pakistan-Afghanistan peace jirga will be held in Peshawar on March 31 to urge the leadership of the two nations to ease tensions and work towards peace, local media reported.

While addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Khan, who is head of Aspire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which, along with Qaumi Islahi Tehreek, is organising the jirga, said the national and political leaders, tribal elders, religious scholars, members of civil society, traders and media representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghans residing in Pakistan will participate in the meeting, Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn reported.

Arbab Shehzad Khan emphasised that war was not a solution to any problem and issues must be resolved through talks. He further said that the forum would focus on promoting sustainable peace through mutual respect, confidence-building measures and negotiations. He said that the forum will urge the leadership of Afghanistan and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions.

He said that the jirga was aimed at setting up a joint course of action to foster peace, stability, life, and talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan. After the conclusion of the jirga, a joint declaration in favour of peace will be issued and sent to the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan.