India, Sept. 1 -- India on Monday dispatched relief materials to Afghanistan to help victims of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 800 people, even as external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to assess the situation and pledge more aid.

The magnitude 6 earthquake struck just before midnight local time in eastern Afghanistan, causing widespread destruction in Kunar province, which was at the epicentre. The Taliban said more than 800 people were killed and upwards of 2,000 injured, with entire villages destroyed and roads blocked by landslides.

"Spoke with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi today. Expressed our condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake,"...