Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to 48-Hour Ceasefire Following Deadly Border Clashes

An Afghan Taliban soldier standing over a military vehicle in Khost on October 13, 2025.

New Delhi:

Pakistan and Afghanistan reached an agreement on a 48-hour ceasefire Wednesday evening following deadly border clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties and numerous injuries earlier in the day.

The ceasefire took effect at 6 pm Pakistan Time (6:30 pm IST).

According to a statement from Islamabad cited by Reuters, "Both sides will make sincere efforts, through dialogue, to find a positive solution to the complex yet resolvable issue."

Pakistan has stated that Afghanistan requested the ceasefire, though Afghan authorities have not yet confirmed this claim or commented on the temporary halt to hostilities.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan reported killing "dozens of Afghan security forces and militants" during overnight military operations, marking the most severe violence between the neighboring countries in recent years.

Pakistani authorities also claimed to have destroyed tanks and military installations while repelling what they described as "unprovoked" attacks.

However, Pakistan strongly denied targeting civilians after Taliban representatives reported that a dozen civilians were killed and over 100 wounded in a strike on a border area in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, stated that a Pakistani Army border outpost was destroyed and an enemy tank was captured in retaliatory action.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who conduct terrorist attacks within Pakistani territory, claiming these incidents have increased since the Taliban took power in 2021.

Afghan authorities reject these allegations. During a recent state visit to India, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi insisted that the Taliban would not allow Afghan territory to be used for launching attacks against other nations.

Wednesday's clashes were the second such incident this week, raising concerns about a potential wider conflict in a region where terrorist groups like the Islamic State - as well as organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba that target India - are attempting to establish or reestablish their presence.

The fighting had briefly paused on Sunday following appeals from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

This deadly escalation coincided with Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi's visit to India, which Pakistan views as Delhi's attempt to reset relations with Kabul.

India has restored full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and announced plans to upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to an Embassy, as confirmed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last week.

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of sheltering terrorists, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an accusation that Afghanistan denies.

With input from agencies

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