Kabul: Nine children and one woman were killed in eastern Afghanistan after a bomb struck a house near the Pakistan border, according to Afghan Taliban officials. The blast took place around midnight in the Gurbuz district of Khost province, an area close to ongoing clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the explosion destroyed the home of a man identified as Wilayat Khan. He reported that the victims included five boys, four girls and an adult woman. The Taliban also claimed that similar raids were carried out in Kunar and Paktika provinces, where four civilians were injured.

The Taliban accused Pakistan of carrying out the strike. However, Pakistani officials have not issued any public statement in response to the allegations. Independent confirmation of the details is still not available.

The incident comes at a time of rising military tension along the Afghan Pakistan border. Both sides have been trading accusations in recent months, and earlier violence in October had already put pressure on the fragile ceasefire efforts led by regional mediators.

Local residents say fear has increased in the border villages as clashes and cross border fire have become more frequent. Humanitarian groups have expressed concern that civilians are increasingly caught in the middle of the conflict.

Regional observers warn that if the situation continues to escalate, the humanitarian impact on border communities could grow worse. International organisations have urged both countries to prioritise civilian safety and to avoid further steps that could inflame tensions.