Kandahar: At least six civilians, including women and children, were killed and five others injured after the Pakistani military shelled three residential houses in Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, local media reported on Saturday.
The strikes came amid the third round of Afghanistan-Pakistan peace talks in Istanbul, which reportedly ended in a stalemate.
Hayatullah, a resident whose mother was killed and daughter injured, told told reporters here.“Two or three mortar shells hit our home. My mother was martyred, and this child was injured in the arm.”
Another local, Abdul Manan, said two artillery shells hit his home, killing his young son and grandson and injuring two other family members. “It’s very painful. No one can understand what we’re going through,” he said.
In addition to homes, a commercial centre in Spin Boldak was also struck, causing significant damage to shops and property.
Residents condemned the attacks as clear violations of international law. “You always do this. These are acts of aggression. Civilian and commercial infrastructure must not be targeted,” an eyewitness, Najibullah said.
Local officials accused Pakistan of breaching the ceasefire without provocation, saying Afghan forces had not retaliated. “They always violate the ceasefire, while the Islamic Emirate’s forces have remained committed and not broken the truce,” said Ali Mohammad Haqmal, Head of Information and Culture in Spin Boldak.
Meanwhile, peace talks between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities in Istanbul—intended to develop a joint framework for border security and counterterrorism—ended without progress. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Friday that the discussions were suspended after a deadlock, with no plans yet to resume negotiations.
