Pakistan shelling kills 2 children, injures nearly 30 in eastern Afghanistan

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.