Negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are making steady progress, China said on Friday, as efforts continue to ease tensions in their most serious conflict since the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 2021.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said both sides had welcomed Beijing’s mediation and were willing to resume dialogue. “This is a positive development,” she said, noting that China remains in close communication with both governments.

Beijing— which shares a border with both countries—has stepped up diplomatic engagement in recent months, including calls with foreign ministers and a visit by a special envoy in March. Previous rounds of talks have reportedly taken place in Urumqi, though officials did not confirm the latest venue.

China has positioned itself as a facilitator, aiming to create conditions for dialogue and provide a platform for negotiations. Mao said further details would be released jointly by the three countries “in due course.”

Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces since October have killed dozens on both sides, with Afghan civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Islamabad has accused Kabul of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks—an allegation Afghan authorities deny, calling militancy a domestic issue for Pakistan.

The renewed diplomatic push signals cautious optimism that tensions between the neighbors could ease through sustained dialogue under Chinese mediation.

The Embassy of Iran in Afghanistan, citing Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, has called on doctors worldwide to respond to recent attacks on hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical research institutions in Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces.

The embassy specifically urged Afghan doctors and healthcare staff to support Pezeshkian’s appeal and, in coordination with international organizations, raise the voice of the medical community against what has been described as a blatant attack on humanity.

This appeal aims to emphasize the protection of healthcare facilities and the safeguarding of human health during times of war and crisis.

So far, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not issued any official response regarding this appeal.

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.