Afghanistan

The UN reports 42 civilian deaths and 104 injuries as the deadly Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict enters its sixth day, with heavy casualties on both sides and growing humanitarian concerns.

The current fighting marks the latest episode of escalation between the two Muslim states after weeks of escalating tensions and is their most significant conflict since 2021.

Separately, Afghanistan said it was firing at Pakistani jets in Kabul after blasts and gunfire rocked the capital on Sunday.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, a US-recognized terrorist group, said on Friday they were willing to negotiate after a Pakistani bombing campaign.

Pakistan's defense minister said Afghanistan committed acts of "open war," as tensions have heated up since Kabul launched air strikes on Taliban terror targets last weekend.

According to the AFP report, the explosion came after at least one jet was heard flying over the city and was followed by sounds of gunfire.

Videos shared by Afghan security forces showed Humvees driving through dark, mountainous terrain at night, lit by flashes of gunfire. Sustained bursts of automatic fire could be heard.

The Taliban has restricted women's movements and barred girls from education beyond primary school since coming to power in 2021, via a series of morality laws limiting expression and employment.

Pakistan carried out air strikes on targets in Afghanistan over the weekend on what it said were militant targets responsible for a spate of recent suicide bombings on Pakistani soil.

The incident, just days after Pakistani airstrikes, is the latest flare-up along the border since the declaration of the October ceasefire.