Nuristan Under Heavy Shelling as Civilians Face Food Shortages

Nuristan, the land of legends, is now under heavy shelling from what residents describe as indiscriminate fire by the Pakistani military.

After targeting homes of local residents with shelling, the forces have now also targeted the main public road between Kunar and eastern Nuristan.

Local residents say Pakistani forces open fire on civilians traveling along this route and do not allow passage. According to them, the current situation has led to a severe shortage of food in eastern Nuristan.

Sadiq Khan, a local resident, said: “In addition to food, there is also a shortage of vegetables, and women and children are facing serious difficulties.”

Another resident, Enayatullah, said: “The road to Barg-e-Matal and Kamdesh has been closed for a long time, and people in those areas are facing serious problems.”

Residents also stress that Pakistani forces, by firing indiscriminately on residential areas, are violating international laws of war and targeting public infrastructure, civilian homes, and roads.

Mohammad Tahir, another resident, said: “Patients cannot travel; this is a public road used by people, but Pakistani forces fire on it, and women and children are facing hunger.”

Rahimullah Sadat also said: “Patients cannot travel; this is a public road used by people, but Pakistani forces fire on it, and women and children are facing hunger.”

Meanwhile, local officials in Nuristan say the road between Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal districts has come under attack. They add that work on an alternative route to connect these areas to central Nuristan is ongoing.

Fereydoun Samim, spokesperson for the Nuristan governor, said: “We started work on an alternative route—a road that connects Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal to central Nuristan through the Paprok area. The work was delayed because whenever we started, snowfall would begin. Now the snow has stopped, and the road will be connected within two days, God willing.”

According to the Kunar Department of Information and Culture, in the past 24 hours, Pakistani forces have fired more than 85 shells into parts of Kunar and also carried out a drone strike, killing 2 civilians and injuring 8 others.

Officials say that in retaliatory attacks, Islamic Emirate forces destroyed three Pakistani military posts in the Nawapas area of Sarkano district in Kunar and killed one Pakistani soldier.