Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire starting Wednesday evening, halting escalating violence along their volatile 2,600 km border after a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan's Kandahar province. The truce, announced by Pakistan’s foreign ministry, aims to pave the way for dialogue to resolve tensions that erupted into deadly clashes, killing over a dozen civilians and soldiers on both sides. The airstrike in Spin Boldak and retaliatory attacks in Pakistan’s Chaman district shattered a fragile peace, with both nations trading accusations of provocation and harboring militants.
The recent fighting, the worst since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul, intensified after Pakistan demanded that the Afghan Taliban curb militant groups like ISIS-K operating from Afghan soil, blamed for deadly attacks in Pakistan, including one last week that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers. Afghanistan countered, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation and sheltering ISIS-linked militants to destabilize the Taliban regime. In a separate incident in Pakistan’s Orakzai district, six paramilitary soldiers and nine militants were killed during a military operation, further highlighting the region’s volatility. Both sides have closed key border crossings, stranding trade and exacerbating economic strain for landlocked Afghanistan, heavily reliant on Pakistani goods.
The ceasefire follows international outcry, with China urging protection for its regional investments, Russia calling for restraint, and U.S. President Donald Trump offering to mediate. The timing is notable, coinciding with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, Pakistan’s rival, where both nations agreed to strengthen diplomatic ties, including reopening India’s embassy in Kabul. This move has added fuel to Pakistan’s concerns about Afghanistan’s foreign alignments, with Islamabad denying Kabul’s claims of unprovoked aggression in Spin Boldak as “outrageous lies.”
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As both nations pause hostilities, the ceasefire offers a fleeting chance to de-escalate a conflict rooted in decades-old border disputes and mutual distrust. However, with trade halted and accusations flying, the path to a lasting resolution remains uncertain. The international community watches closely, wary of further instability in a region already plagued by militancy and economic woes.
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