Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire after deadly cross-border fighting along the Durand Line.
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire starting 6 pm on Wednesday, Islamabad’s foreign ministry said as per Reuters. The announcement follows more than a week of some of the deadliest cross-border fighting in recent years between the Pakistani military and the Afghan Taliban regime. The brief truce comes amid mounting civilian casualties, destruction of border outposts and a worsening humanitarian situation along the Durand Line, where both sides have traded heavy fire since last week.
The fighting erupted after Pakistan reportedly launched cross-border airstrikes in Kabul last week, targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants, responsible for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. In response, Taliban mounted a major counteroffensive across the border, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and destroying 20 security outposts over the weekend. Hostilities briefly paused on Sunday after mediation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar but resumed Tuesday night.
What Taliban Has Said On Deadly Clashes
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of triggering the latest round of hostilities by firing “light and heavy weapons" in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, killing 15 civilians and injuring more than 100. According to hospital officials quoted by AFP, over 80 women and children were among the wounded. The Taliban claimed it killed “a large number" of Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory fire and seized Pakistani tanks and weapons.
Pakistan Says Taliban Attacked Border Posts
Pakistan, however, blamed the Taliban for initiating the conflict as country’s military said that Taliban attacked two border posts in the southwest and northwest, both of which were repelled, leaving about 30 attackers dead. Islamabad claimed another 20 Taliban fighters were killed near Spin Boldak during counterattacks. The Pakistani army said four civilians were wounded in Taliban shelling in Chaman district while six Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed in Orakzai. Thousands of residents along both sides of the frontier have been displaced owing to the clashes.
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First Published:
October 15, 2025, 19:00 IST
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