After a week of escalating violence that left dozens dead and hundreds displaced, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire the most significant de-escalation since the border fighting began earlier this month.
The temporary truce began at 6:00 p.m. Islamabad time (13:00 GMT) on Wednesday, following back-to-back days of airstrikes, ground assaults, and civilian evacuations along the Durand Line, the disputed frontier separating the two nations.
Both sides claimed the other had requested the pause in hostilities, but each pledged to honour the ceasefire in pursuit of “a constructive solution” to what officials called a “complex but resolvable issue.”
“During this period, both sides will sincerely strive to find a positive solution through dialogue,” the Pakistani military said in a statement from Rawalpindi.
In Kabul, the Taliban government ordered its forces to comply with the truce “unless it is violated by Pakistan.”
“Our forces are ready to defend Afghan territory and will respond firmly to any further aggression,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X.
Week of Escalation
The ceasefire follows some of the heaviest cross-border clashes in years. Fighting intensified after the Taliban reportedly launched offensives along Pakistan’s southern border, prompting Islamabad to warn of a “decisive military response.”
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of harbouring Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for attacks inside its territory a claim the Afghan government categorically denies.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s military said Afghan fighters attacked two major border posts in the southwest and northwest, which were “successfully repelled.” Officials claimed 20 Taliban fighters were killed near Spin Boldak in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, and reported 30 additional casualties in overnight clashes further north.
“Unfortunately, the attack was orchestrated through divided villages with no regard for the civilian population,” the statement said.
The Taliban, however, gave a sharply different account, accusing Pakistan of killing 15 civilians and wounding dozens near Spin Boldak. Mujahid said 100 civilians were injured and claimed Taliban forces had captured Pakistani weapons, an assertion Islamabad dismissed as “blatant lies.”
Pakistan has not disclosed recent casualty numbers, but last week confirmed the death of 23 soldiers during earlier confrontations.
Tensions Spread to Kabul
As border hostilities raged, two explosions rocked Kabul on Wednesday evening, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. The Taliban’s spokesman attributed them to an oil tanker and generator blast, denying any link to the fighting.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan’s Khost province, Abdul Ghafoor Abid, a journalist for state-run television, was killed by Pakistani shelling while covering the border violence, according to Taliban officials.
A Fragile Pause
While the ceasefire brings a brief respite, analysts warn it may be short-lived unless both sides address core issues including the Taliban’s alleged support for cross-border militants and Pakistan’s repeated air incursions.
The clashes have strained already tense relations between the two neighbours, marking a sharp turn from Pakistan’s earlier role as the Taliban’s primary political and logistical supporter.
“This truce is tactical, not strategic,” said a South Asia security analyst based in Islamabad. “Without trust-building and clear border mechanisms, another flare-up is almost inevitable.”
The 48-hour ceasefire may ease tensions temporarily, but it also exposes the deep mistrust and mutual resentment that now define Pakistan–Taliban relations. What began as a relationship of convenience has transformed into one of open hostility with civilians, once again, paying the highest price.
