Pakistan fires into Afghanistan despite truce

KABUL, Nov 06 (AFP): Projectiles were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan on Thursday, an Afghan military source and witnesses told AFP, as the two neighbours were to resume talks in Turkey to reinforce a fragile ceasefire.

"Pakistan used light and heavy weapons and targeted civilian areas," the Afghan military source said of the shelling, which witnesses said lasted 10-15 minutes.

"We have not retaliated yet, out of respect for the ongoing negotiations" in Istanbul, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Pakistani military did not respond immediately to AFP's requests for comment. Border clashes early last month that followed explosions in Kabul killed more than 70 people, including around 50 Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations.

It was one of the deadliest confrontations in years between the South Asian neighbours, whose relations have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, particularly over cross-border militancy and security concerns.

The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on October 19 in Qatar, but reached an impasse when trying to finalise details of the truce in Turkey last week.