At least two children have been killed and nearly 30 civilians injured following continued shelling and drone strikes by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said the attacks began Wednesday, targeting residential areas across Kunar, Paktika and Khost provinces.

“Since yesterday, Pakistani forces have carried out continuous mortar, rocket and drone attacks,” Fitrat said, adding that most of the casualties were civilians, including children.

In Kunar province, more than 150 mortar and long-range artillery shells struck Sarkano and Manogai districts, injuring two children and damaging property. In the Dosaraki area of Sarkano’s Nawapas region, eight children were wounded and two others killed in shelling.

Additional bombardment continued Thursday, with around 185 artillery rounds hitting Sarkano district and wounding at least 10 more civilians, Fitrat said. A further 178 shells reportedly landed in Manogai, Dangam, Nari and Shultan districts, though no casualties were immediately confirmed.

In Paktika province, a drone strike in Shkin district injured three civilians, while in neighboring Khost, two civilians were wounded in a separate drone strike in Zazi Maidan district.

Afghan officials condemned the attacks, saying civilian areas were deliberately targeted, causing significant harm to local communities.

The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts are underway. According to officials, talks between Afghan and Pakistani representatives began Thursday in Urumqi, China.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Afghan delegation traveled to China at Beijing’s initiative to hold discussions with Pakistani counterparts.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Thursday that at China’s initiative, a mid-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has arrived in the country to hold official talks with the Pakistani side in line with its principled position.

Qahar said in a statement that these talks are set to begin in the city of Urumqi with the mediation of the Chinese government.

According to Balkhi, this process is being carried forward at China’s request and on the basis of mutual respect and constructive engagement with that country.

He added that the Islamic Emirate is participating in these meetings based on a balanced and principled approach, and intends to hold comprehensive and responsible discussions with the other side on good neighborly relations, strengthening trade ties, and the effective management of security issues.

He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate believes diplomatic engagement based on mutual respect, non-interference, and constructive understanding can find practical and sustainable solutions to the existing issues between the two countries and help provide a foundation for stability and cooperation in the region.

Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan have officially begun in the Chinese city of Urumqi, sources told Ariana News on Thursday.

Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, expressed optimism about the negotiations, saying he hopes the discussions will help bring an end to ongoing tensions and conflict between the two neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andarabi, said the talks involve senior officials and rejected claims that they are merely low-level engagements, calling such reports a “false narrative.”

Islamabad confirmed it has dispatched a delegation to Urumqi, reiterating its longstanding position that Afghanistan must address Pakistan’s security concerns, particularly regarding militant groups.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that both Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighbors of China, adding that Beijing supports resolving differences through dialogue and negotiation.

China has also been actively facilitating mediation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and will continue to play a constructive role in easing tensions and improving relations between the two countries, the spokesperson said.