A ceasefire along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier held on Thursday, officials from both countries confirmed, following days of deadly cross-border fighting that claimed dozens of lives.
In Spin Boldak, one of the main flashpoints on the Afghan side, shops reopened and residents began returning to homes they had fled during the violence, an AFP journalist reported.
The 48-hour truce, declared by Islamabad, aims to create space for “constructive dialogue” to resolve tensions.
Pakistan has seen a surge in attacks on its western border by the Pakistani Taliban and allied groups. On Wednesday alone, 40 civilians were killed and 170 injured, according to Spin Boldak’s public health director, Karimullah Zubair Agha. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported at least 18 civilian deaths and over 350 wounded in the recent violence.
Abdul Zahir, a local resident, described the terror: “Our houses were bombed, and a child was wounded. I heard the planes myself. It’s terrifying.” Hundreds, including Taliban officials, attended the funeral of seven family members killed in Spin Boldak.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of harboring militants who plan attacks from Afghan soil, a charge the Taliban denies.
Pakistani officials along the border said no violence was reported overnight and the ceasefire remained in effect. A senior security officer in Peshawar confirmed additional paramilitary forces were deployed to prevent any threats to the truce.
Before the ceasefire, blasts struck Kabul and Kandahar, where the Taliban’s shadowy supreme leader resides. The Taliban blamed Wednesday’s Kabul explosions on an oil tanker and generator accident, but Pakistani sources claimed their military carried out “precision strikes” targeting militants in Kabul and Taliban bases in Kandahar.
The blasts caused blackouts in parts of Kabul, and AFP journalists saw extensive damage to roads and buildings. An Italian NGO running a Kabul hospital reported at least five deaths and 35 injuries, many with shrapnel wounds and burns, with 10 in critical condition.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk welcomed the ceasefire and urged both sides to prevent further civilian harm and commit to lasting peace.
The conflict reignited last week when explosions, blamed by the Taliban on Islamabad, occurred as Afghanistan’s top diplomat visited India, Pakistan’s rival. The Taliban then launched border offensives, prompting a strong Pakistani response.
AFP
