KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban say three civilians have been killed after a mortar shell allegedly fired from Pakistan struck a house in eastern Afghanistan.
Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the incident occurred when a mortar shell hit a residential house in the Dand Patan district of Paktia Province, killing three civilians and injuring three others.
“The Pakistani military regime attacked seven villages (Machai, Atakhail, Manzai, Hozai, Swaki, Tiaki, and Qabaylo Ghund) located in Zazi Maidan District of Khost Province with artillery and mortar rounds. As a result of these attacks, two civilians were injured, and a number of civilian houses as well as a mosque were destroyed,” said Hamdullah Fitrat.
Fitrat said the attack took place on Monday night (9 March) in the village of Kot Kali in Dand Patan district.
He also reported that Pakistani attacks have continued in the provinces of Paktika Province, Khost Province and Nuristan Province.
According to the Taliban deputy spokesperson, another civilian was injured in the Zazi Maidan district of Khost province, while 20 livestock were killed in Kamdesh district of Nuristan province.
Fitrat added that several houses had also been destroyed and a number of families displaced as a result of the attacks.
Fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan has continued for around two weeks.
According to figures from the United Nations, Pakistani attacks have so far killed and injured more than 185 civilians and displaced more than 20,000 families.
Regional leaders, including Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and countries such as Russia and China, have offered to mediate and called for de-escalation. The United Nations and several governments have urged an immediate halt to hostilities.
