Islamabad, Oct 16: Pakistan on Wednesday, announced a 48-hour ceasefire agreement with the Taliban-led Afghan government following intense border clashes that have resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides.The ceasefire, set to begin at 6 PM Wednesday, was confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, which stated that the truce was reached with mutual consent at the request of the Afghan Taliban.
However, Afghanistan’s chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed the ceasefire was initiated at Pakistan’s request and would begin at 5:30 PM.
He added that Afghan forces were instructed to respect the ceasefire unless provoked.
The ceasefire follows days of escalating violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, particularly in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Pakistani army stated it had repelled multiple cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, killing over 40 militants. The most significant clash occurred in Spin Boldak, where Taliban forces attacked four locations.
Pakistan reported that it effectively repelled these attacks, killing 15–20 Taliban fighters and injuring many more. Pakistan also accused the Taliban of destroying the Pak-Afghan Friendship Gate on their side, which Pakistan said signaled disregard for cross-border trade and tribal ties.
The clashes are part of a larger pattern of increasing tensions between the two neighbors. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of harboring and facilitating the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks within Pakistan. The government of Pakistan refers to the TTP as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” invoking a historical term for rebels who create disorder.
A particularly deadly incident cited in the report involved a terrorist attack in Orakzai district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, allegedly launched from Afghan soil.
That attack killed 11 Pakistani soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and a major. Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul to prevent the TTP and other terror groups from using Afghan territory to stage attacks, a claim the Afghan Taliban denies, asserting that Afghan soil is not being used against neighboring countries.
On the day of the ceasefire announcement, Pakistan also conducted retaliatory “precision strikes” targeting Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul. State media reported the destruction of key Taliban battalions and brigades, with dozens of militants allegedly killed.
The Pakistani military asserted it has the full capability to respond to any external aggression and warned that further attacks would be met with full force.
In another incident, the Taliban and TTP reportedly attempted to attack Pakistani posts in the Kurram Sector on October 14.
Pakistani forces claimed to have destroyed eight Afghan posts, including six tanks, and inflicted heavy casualties, with 25–30 fighters killed.
Pakistan’s military has denied Taliban claims that it initiated the attacks, calling such statements blatant falsehoods and propaganda. The army emphasized that any acts of aggression would continue to be met with decisive military action.
As the 48-hour truce begins, both sides have agreed to seek a long-term resolution through dialogue. However, given the recent violence and deep mistrust, the situation remains tense and fragile.