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KABUL, Afghanistan: A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border has killed at least 250 people and injured at least 500 others, officials said.

The quake late Sunday hit a series of towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangahar province. The 6.0 magnitude at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the US Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage.

The Kunar Disaster Management Authority said in a statement that at least 250 people were killed and 500 others injured in the districts of Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare.

Jalalabad is a bustling trade city due to its proximity with neighboring Pakistan and a key border crossing between the countries. Although it has a population of about 300,000 according to the municipality, it’s metropolitan area is thought to be far larger. Most of its buildings are low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, and its outlying areas include homes built of mud bricks and wood. Many are of poor construction.

Jalalabad also has considerable agriculture and farming, including citrus fruit and rice, with the Kabul River flowing through the city.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished.

The UN gave a far lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday alleged Islamabad had irrefutable evidence of the involvement of “foreign hands” in terror attacks in Pakistan, in a veiled reference to India, alleging the country has suffered $152 billion in economic losses as a result. 

The Pakistani prime minister was addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) two-day Council of Heads of State (CHS) summit in Tianjin, China. The SCO summit saw participation from member states such as Russia, India, Central Asian countries and others, who seek greater regional connectivity and economic cooperation. 

This was the first time Sharif had attended a regional summit with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, after Pakistan’s brief military confrontation with India in May. Islamabad has blamed New Delhi for supporting militant attacks in Pakistan, including an attack on the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan in March. Fighters belonging to the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) had stormed the train with hundreds of passengers on board and took them hostage. The military rescued them after an hours-long operation that left 33 militants, 23 soldiers, three railway staff and five passengers dead. 

“We have, ladies and gentlemen, irrefutable evidence of the involvement of some foreign hands in the devastating Jaffar Express train hostage incident, as well as countless other terrorist attacks against us in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan,” Sharif said during his address. 

Sharif said Pakistan has rendered “great sacrifices” in its battle against militancy, saying it has lost over 90,000 lives to various attacks over the years. 

“[Pakistan] has endured economic losses over $152 billion, a sacrifice which has no parallel in the annals of history,” the Pakistani premier said. 

He said Islamabad supports and respects the sovereignty and integrity of all SCO member states and its neighbors. 

“We respect all international and bilateral treaties and expect similar principles to be followed by all SCO members,” Sharif said in another veiled reference to India. 

Delhi announced following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that it was holding the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the use of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan, in abeyance. Delhi announced the move as ties deteriorated between the nuclear-armed nations after it held Pakistan responsible for the April militant attack that killed 26. Pakistan denies having a hand in the attack. 

“Pakistan seeks normal and stable relationship with all its neighbors. It seeks dialogue and diplomacy over conflict and confrontation,” the Pakistani premier said. 

He reiterated Islamabad’s demand for a comprehensive dialogue to resolve all outstanding disputes in the region. 

The May fighting between India and Pakistan was the worst between the two neighbors since 1999. The militaries of the two countries pounded each other with fighter jets, drones, missiles and artillery fire before US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire on May 10. 

The fragile ceasefire continues to remain in place, but tensions remain high.