Kabul, April 3: 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.

Mumbai: The ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, particularly the Iran–Israel conflict, have The ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict, have begun to weigh on India’s real estate sector. Developers are flagging delays in project completion due to supply chain disruptions and rising input costs.

Industry stakeholders said shortages of key finishing materials such as tiles and sanitaryware, driven largely by gas supply constraints, are emerging as a critical concern. These disruptions are expected to push possession timelines, especially for projects in advanced stages.

CREDAI-MCHI Chief Operating Officer Keval Valambhia noted that the war has led to significant supply-side challenges. Shortages of gas and LPG have impacted the production of energy-intensive materials like supply of tiles from Morbi, which supplies over 80% of the market need. “Distributors have increased prices due to limited availability, but the situation remains manageable currently,” Valam bhia said. He warned that if the conflict continues, project possession timelines could extend by two to three months.

The marble and tile industry has been hit particularly hard. Gajendra Bhandari, President of the Vile Parle Marble Association, said that nearly 80% of factories have shut down. According to Bhandari, major firms are now insisting on full advance payments and have stopped accepting new orders without prior confirmation.

Deep Vadodaria, CEO of Nila Spaces, explained that the conflict affects projects at multiple levels. Beyond finishing materials like façade glass, core inputs like steel and cement are witnessing price pressure due to rising crude oil prices. Vadodaria described this as an indirect “wartax” on the sector, where developers deal with both cost escalations and procurement uncertainty.

Anand Gupta, a member of the Builders Association of India, said the availability of sanitaryware is hampered by chemical supply issues.

Washington, April 3: US forces struck a key highway bridge in Iran, escalating tensions as President Donald Trump warned there was “much more to follow” and urged Tehran to make a deal.

The strike hit the B1 bridge linking Tehran with the nearby city of Karaj. A US military official said the attack targeted “a planned military supply route for Iran’s missile and drone forces.”

Iranian state media said the bridge was not yet operational and not being used by the military. Officials said at least eight people were killed and dozens wounded, including civilians outdoors during the Nowruz holiday.

Trump hailed the strike in a social media post. “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow!” he said. He also warned Iran to “MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

US officials said the operation was part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s military logistics. The strike aimed to prevent the movement of missile and drone components across the country.

Iranian leaders struck a defiant tone. “When it comes to defending our homeland, each and every one of us will become a soldier of this country,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said. He added that Iranians were “armed, ready and standing.”

Tehran ruled out talks with Washington for now. A foreign ministry spokesman said negotiations were “impossible under current conditions.”

The bridge strike came alongside other attacks on infrastructure. Iranian authorities said an airstrike hit the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a major public health facility. A health ministry spokesman called it a “direct assault on international health security.”

The conflict has spread across the region. Israel said it intercepted missiles from Iran. The Houthis in Yemen also launched a missile toward Israel.

Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Russia, China and France blocked a push at the U.N. Security Council to authorise force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.