China has called for restraint and dialogue amid rising regional tensions, saying diplomatic efforts are needed to prevent further escalation in both the Iran crisis and the border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China, held a phone conversation with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to discuss recent developments.

During the call, Wang said the key to preventing further escalation in Iran lies in halting military operations by the United States and Israel. He said China does not condone attacks on Gulf states and strongly condemns strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The discussion also addressed the recent clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Wang noted that China’s Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs is currently shuttling between the two countries to help promote dialogue and reconciliation.

He emphasized that the immediate priority is to prevent further escalation and ensure a swift return to negotiations between the two sides.

China will construct nine border infrastructure facilities along the frontier between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, according to a report by Kazinform News Agency.

The plan was approved by the lower chamber of Tajikistan’s parliament, the Majlisi Oli, under an agreement aimed at strengthening the material and technical capacity of Tajikistan’s border forces.

According to the parliamentary bulletin Sadoi Mardum, the project includes the construction of facilities equipped with modern surveillance systems, communication technologies, and engineering infrastructure designed to enhance border security.

The total construction area will cover approximately 17,000 square meters, with an estimated cost of 424.8 million Chinese yuan. The funding will be provided free of charge by the government of China.

Murodali Rajabzoda, First Deputy Chairman of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, said the new facilities are part of broader cooperation between Beijing and Dushanbe to improve border infrastructure.

He noted that under a previous agreement with China, 12 border facilities were constructed between 2017 and 2018.

Earlier, Kazinform also reported that the parliament of Kazakhstan had ratified the Kazakhstan–Tajikistan Treaty on Allied Relations, reflecting growing regional cooperation.

The United States has decided to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar which has long been the closest American diplomatic mission to the Durand Line.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department informed Congress this week of its intention to shut down the consulate, saying the move would save about $7.5 million annually.

U.S. officials said the closure would not negatively affect Washington’s ability to advance its national interests in Pakistan.

The U.S. consulate in Peshawar was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.

The decision is part of a broader effort by the Donald Trump administration to reduce costs and downsize federal agencies, a plan that has been under consideration for more than a year. Officials said the move is not related to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Last year, the U.S. administration also cut thousands of diplomatic positions at the State Department and dismissed many staff members from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

However, the Peshawar consulate will be the first overseas U.S. diplomatic mission to be completely closed as part of the State Department’s restructuring.

The consulate currently employs 18 American diplomats and government personnel as well as 89 local staff members.