Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Ceasefire After Border Clashes, Reported Air Strikes
Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan announced a 48-hour ceasefire today, following a surge in violence including border clashes and reported Pakistani air strikes in Kabul and Kandahar.
The ceasefire, which Pakistan stated took effect at 13:00 GMT on October 15, 2025, came after a day of escalating tensions. Both sides claim the other requested the truce. Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson reported 12 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries due to Pakistani firing, while Pakistan’s military said its forces killed “15-20 Afghan Taliban” in the Spin Boldak border district. These claims remain unverified. The conflict stems from long-standing accusations by Pakistan that Afghanistan harbors militants targeting Pakistani territory, a charge the Taliban denies.
Explosions were reported in Kabul and Kandahar, with Pakistani state media reporting its armed forces conducted air strikes in Kandahar province and Kabul. While the Pakistani military has not publicly acknowledged the strikes, a Taliban government spokesperson posted on X about explosions involving an oil tanker and a generator, without directly linking them to the conflict. Kabul’s emergency surgical centre reported receiving 40 people, including five dead on arrival, following the explosions. The United Nations UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has expressed deep concern over civilian casualties.
The recent fighting follows weekend clashes where both sides reported significant casualties – the Taliban claiming 58 Pakistani military deaths and Islamabad claiming 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists were killed, figures that remain independently unconfirmed. This escalation threatens to further destabilize the region, potentially impacting regional trade and security. Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated, “During this period, both sides will make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue,” while the Taliban government spokesman said Afghan forces were instructed to respect the ceasefire “as long as no one commits aggression.”
Officials from both sides indicated they would use the ceasefire period to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing dispute.
