Attack in Afghanistan kills 8 civilians

KABUL, Afghanistan — At least eight Afghan civilians — five children and three women — were killed Sunday when militants fired mortar rounds into eastern Ghazni province’s capital city, a provincial official said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. But Wahidullah Jumazada, a spokesman for the provincial governor, blamed insurgents who he said often fire mortar rounds or rockets toward military bases in the area but miss their intended targets.

At least four children and three men were wounded in the attack, he said.

Violence has soared in Afghanistan in recent months, even as the Taliban and government negotiators hold peace talks in Qatar to seek an end to decades of relentless war in Afghanistan. The two sides have made little progress.

The U.S.’ peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has been pressing for an agreement on a reduction of violence or a cease-fire, which the Taliban have refused, saying a permanent truce would be part of the negotiations.

The talks are part of a negotiated agreement between the United States and the Taliban to allow U.S. and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, ending 19 years of military engagement.

Earlier this month, Islamic State militants stormed Kabul University as it hosted a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador, sparking an hourslong gunbattle that left at least 22 people dead and 22 wounded at the war-torn country’s largest school.