Ceasefire Declared Amid Rising Tensions on the Pak-Afghan Border
Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government have agreed to a temporary 48-hour truce following a series of deadly border clashes and reported Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar.
According to official statements released on Wednesday, both sides claimed the other had requested the short-term ceasefire, which came into effect at 13:00 GMT.
The announcement followed days of escalating hostilities between the two neighbors, with dozens of casualties reported on both sides. However, none of the death tolls could be independently verified, and both governments accused each other of initiating the latest round of violence.
Conflicting Claims Over Civilian and Military Casualties
The Taliban government in Kabul said that 12 civilians were killed and more than 100 others injured due to Pakistani shelling and air attacks along the border region.
Pakistan’s military, meanwhile, said its forces had killed 15–20 Taliban fighters in the Spin Boldak district, a volatile area that has seen repeated clashes in recent months.
A Taliban spokesman countered the claim, saying “numerous Pakistani soldiers” were killed, but did not provide specific figures.
As the violence intensified, explosions were reported in Kabul and Kandahar, further fueling speculation that Pakistan had launched airstrikes targeting militant infrastructure.
Pakistani state media described the blasts as part of a “targeted counter-terrorism operation,” though the Pakistani military has not publicly confirmed conducting air raids.
In contrast, the Taliban said the explosions resulted from an oil tanker and a generator blast, denying any connection to cross-border fighting.
Five-Hour Battle Leaves Civilians Displaced
Local sources in Spin Boldak, located just across Pakistan’s Chaman border, described intense fighting that began around 04:00 local time (23:30 GMT Tuesday).
Residents reported seeing drones and fighter jets overhead, with “very heavy clashes” lasting nearly five hours.
A local doctor told the BBC that seven bodies and 36 injured people, including men, women, and children, had been brought to a nearby hospital.
A Taliban district official confirmed that hundreds of families had fled their homes overnight as shelling and air raids intensified.
“We are on high alert,” the official said, claiming that several Taliban posts were hit by Pakistani jets and that the Taliban had recovered the bodies of two Pakistani soldiers.
Islamabad Says 25–30 Militants Killed in Separate Operation
In a separate overnight incident along Pakistan’s northwestern border, the Pakistani military reported killing 25 to 30 militants, including members of both the Afghan Taliban and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The military described the operation as “defensive action against cross-border aggression”, reaffirming its commitment to protecting Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The latest escalation follows intense weekend fighting, during which the Taliban claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, while Islamabad reported that it had eliminated more than 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists.
Neither side’s figures have been independently confirmed by international observers.
Global Concern and Calls for Restraint
The United Nations and several global powers have expressed deep concern over the renewed border hostilities.
UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett wrote on X that he was “deeply concerned by reports of civilian casualties and displacement,” urging both sides to “exercise maximum restraint and adhere to international law.”
China, Russia, and the United States have also called for de-escalation, with U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington could help mediate peace between Islamabad and Kabul if tensions continue to rise.
Both countries have fought long battles against extremist groups and share a rugged, porous border that has historically been a flashpoint for insurgent activity.
Pakistan and Taliban Trade Accusations Over Militancy
Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan soil, claiming these groups are responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
Islamabad maintains that the TTP leadership enjoys safe haven in eastern Afghanistan and continues to orchestrate cross-border terrorism.
The Taliban, however, strongly deny the allegations, insisting they are not sheltering anti-Pakistan militants.
They argue that Pakistan’s border policies and air operations are fueling instability rather than fostering peace.
Ceasefire Offers Brief Window for Diplomacy
Both sides have said their forces will respect the 48-hour ceasefire, provided there is no “aggression” from the other side.
Observers say the truce may provide an opportunity for diplomatic engagement aimed at preventing further escalation.
While tensions remain high, regional analysts suggest that the ceasefire could pave the way for mediated talks involving Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or China, all of which have urged restraint in recent days.
For now, the border areas remain tense, with both governments on high alert and monitoring troop movements closely. The coming days will determine whether the short truce leads to lasting calm—or another deadly flare-up.
