At least five members of a family were killed after a mortar shell struck a residential area in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan late Wednesday night, according to local police officials.

The tragic incident occurred in the Serri Kandao area of Tirah Valley in Khyber District, which lies close to the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Authorities said the mortar shell, reportedly fired from an unknown direction, landed in a residential compound and exploded, killing five members of the same family on the spot.

The victims were identified as Niaz Badshah, his two sons, a nephew, and a grandson. The sudden explosion triggered panic and fear among residents in the area, many of whom rushed to the site following the blast.

Local residents expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. Community members have also called on authorities to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of civilians living in border regions that frequently witness violence and cross-border tensions.

The blast comes amid escalating hostilities along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier. Pakistani authorities recently stated that their security forces have killed over 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured more than 855 others during a military campaign launched two weeks ago.

The operation, codenamed Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (Righteous Fury), was initiated on February 26 after Pakistani officials said Afghan forces had attacked dozens of locations along the nearly 2,600-kilometre border shared by the two countries.

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated significantly since October 2025, with both sides exchanging accusations over cross-border attacks and militant activity. Analysts warn that the rising tensions have increased the risk for civilians living in frontier regions, where clashes and artillery fire can spill over into populated areas.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the mortar strike, though it remains unclear who fired the shell or whether it was linked directly to the ongoing military confrontation along the border. 

This image is taken from Mid-day.