Guns Fall Silent: Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree to 48-Hour Ceasefire

Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire following a fresh round of deadly cross-border clashes that saw Pakistani forces strike Taliban targets in Kabul, Kandahar, and Spin Boldak.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad said the truce, requested by the Taliban and agreed upon by both sides, took effect at 6 p.m. local time, allowing space for “constructive dialogue” to resolve the crisis.

However, the Taliban’s version differed, claiming the ceasefire began at 5:30 p.m. Kabul time “at Pakistan’s request” and would remain in force unless violated.

A senior Pakistani military official said the truce followed a “powerful response” from Pakistani forces after Taliban fighters launched overnight attacks on border positions in Chaman, Balochistan, using mortars and heavy weapons, Dawn reported.

Pakistan retaliated with airstrikes on militant camps and installations in Kandahar and Spin Boldak, reportedly killing at least 20 Taliban fighters and destroying several tanks and posts.

Shortly before the ceasefire, two explosions rocked Kabul’s Taimani area, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. While the Taliban blamed an oil tanker fire, Pakistani state media described the blasts as “precision strikes” targeting the leadership of Fitna al-Khawarij, Islamabad’s term for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The latest escalation began early Tuesday when Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani posts in Chaman’s Sui Karez sector, prompting a fierce exchange of fire.

Qatar reportedly played a key role in mediating the truce, while Saudi Arabia had previously intervened to defuse tensions during an earlier, unannounced ceasefire.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned the situation remains fragile, accusing the Taliban of acting as “a proxy for India.” Speaking to Geo News, he said, “We have the capability and will respond if they escalate or attack our territory. This ceasefire is fragile. I doubt it will hold.”

The crisis underscores a sharp deterioration in Pakistan–Taliban relations since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. Despite Islamabad’s early support, the Taliban’s refusal to curb TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan has become the central point of friction, transforming a partnership once grounded in strategic cooperation into one marked by mutual mistrust and open confrontation.