At least seven members of the same Pakistani family were killed Sunday when their home was hit by a mortar round fired from across the border in Afghanistan by suspected militants, Pakistani police said.

Zalmay Khalilzad says he is hopeful of reaching an understanding on reduction of hostilities with Taliban.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that the U.S. will not agree to a cease-fire with Taliban forces in Afghanistan without “demonstrable evidence” that it is committed to reducing violence.

Taliban killed or maimed thousands of Afghan civilians in 2019, against the backdrop of the ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the 18 year conflict in the war-torn country.

India has strengthened its military power along its border with arch-rival Pakistan by deploying its Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) and other weapons amid a rising number of ceasefire violations and the alleged infiltration of terrorists into India.