Afghan Taliban opens door for quake aid, but clashes raise security concerns

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Taliban leaders in Afghanistan promised Tuesday not to interfere with relief efforts in the wake of a devastating earthquake, but a deadly clash along the border with Pakistan underscored the challenges facing both countries as they struggle to assess quake damage.

A day after the 7.5-magnitude temblor struck Afghanistan and Pakistan, the death toll continued to rise as rescue workers began reaching remote areas of the border region. More than 350 people had been killed, officials said. The quake also triggered landslides and damaged or destroyed at least 15,000 houses, many made of stone and mud.