Kabul, April 3 (AHN) At least two children were killed and nearly 30 people were injured due to shelling and drone strikes carried out by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, local media reported on Friday, citing officials.

Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the attacks targeting residential areas in Kunar, Paktika, and Khost provinces began on Wednesday, Afghanistan's Ariana News reported.

"Since yesterday, Pakistani forces have carried out continuous mortar, rocket and drone attacks," he said, adding that majority of the casualties were civilians, including children.

Two children were injured, and property was damaged after more than 150 mortar and long-range artillery shells hit Sarkano and Manogai districts of Kunar province. Eight children were injured, and two others were killed in shelling in the Dosaraki area of Sarkano’s Nawapas region.

Three civilians were injured after a drone strike in the Shkin district of Paktika province, while two people were injured in a separate drone strike in Zazi Maidan district in Khost.

Afghan officials have criticised Pakistan for its strikes, saying that civilian areas were being targeted intentionally, causing significant harm to local communities, Ariana News reported.

Tensions have escalated tremendously between Kabul and Islamabad over the past few months due to the Pakistani airstrikes and artillery fire, which have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in war-torn Afghanistan. Meanwhile, talks began between officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan in China's Urumqi on Thursday.

Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the Afghan delegation visited China to hold discussions with Pakistani officials.

On Thursday, Afghanistan's Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, said that more than 27,000 Afghan families across nine provinces have been displaced due to attacks carried out by Pakistan's military, local media reported.

During a coordination meeting with officials from the United Nations agencies and national and international organisations, Hanif said that Pakistan has carried out hostile actions against Afghanistan in recent months, Afghanistan-based Pajhwok Afghan News reported. He further said that at least 27,344 families have been displaced in Nuristan, Zabul, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kandahar provinces of the country.

Hanif noted that many of these families are currently residing without access to basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. He mentioned that the Taliban has taken measures to address the economic and livelihood challenges faced by displaced people of Afghanistan. However, he urged UN agencies and partner organisations to provide humanitarian assistance.