Pakistan Announces 48-Hour Ceasefire with Afghanistan After Deadly Border Clashes
Share
In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan confirmed that it had accepted a request from the Afghan Taliban regime to pause hostilities. The two sides will cease fire for two days, during which they are expected to “engage in constructive dialogue aimed at finding a positive and sustainable resolution” to ongoing tensions.
Earlier reports pointed to a sudden flare-up along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Though casualty figures remain unverified, they suggest significant losses on both sides—among combatants as well as civilians. Pakistan’s military has accused the Taliban of launching coordinated attacks on multiple posts in Spin Boldak and other border sectors. The Pakistani side claims to have repelled the assaults, inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, and destroyed Taliban positions and equipment. Meanwhile, the Taliban counter that they successfully captured Pakistani posts and weapons, and that their counteroffensive forced Pakistani soldiers to retreat.
The sudden outbreak of violence has drawn sharp criticism from several regional and global players. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Russia, and the United Nations have called for restraint and urged both nations to resolve their disputes diplomatically. The UN expressed particular concern over civilian casualties and displacement, emphasizing the need for respect of human rights.
While both Islamabad and Kabul welcome the ceasefire, they warn it is fragile. The Taliban has stated that should attacks resume, Afghanistan retains the right to defend its territory. Pakistani leaders, on the other hand, have vowed to uphold the country’s territorial integrity and accused foreign-backed militants of orchestrating cross-border aggression.
The 48-hour hiatus offers a narrow window for diplomacy — even as deep distrust, competing narratives, and long-standing grievances threaten to derail any lasting peace.
