The Pakistani military fired early on Monday artillery shells at neighboring Afghanistan, killing five civilians and injuring at least 15, Afghan police said.
Aminullah Omarkhil, border police commander in eastern Afghanistan, said several houses in the Kunar province were destroyed or set on fire by direct artillery hits.
Pakistan has reportedly fired more than 500 shells and mortar rounds at the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nangahar over the past three weeks, killing 41 and injuring at least 48 civilians.
The Afghan government has strongly condemned the Pakistani attacks on its territory, but Islamabad blames the escalation of violence on Kabul, which it says "allows militants, including Pakistani Taliban commanders, to take refuge on the Afghan side."
According to Pakistani military, Afghanistan-based Taliban militants have launched at least five major attacks on Pakistani security forces on the border in the past month, killing 55 security personnel and injuring at least 80.
Experts believe that the recent shelling could overshadow Tuesday's talks between the two countries - with mediation by the United States - to discuss plans for peace negotiations with the Taliban.
