Afghanistan, Pakistan enter 48-hour truce after deadly border clashes

Pakistan and Afghanistan person implemented a ceasefire pursuing the deadliest borderline clashes successful years that killed dozens of radical and led to evacuations connected some sides.

The 48-hour truce began Wednesday astatine 6:00pm Islamabad clip (13:00 GMT), with each state claiming the different requested the intermission successful hostilities.

Pakistan confirmed the ceasefire duration, stating: “During this period, some sides volition sincerely strive to find a affirmative solution to this analyzable but resolvable contented done constructive dialogue.”

In Kabul, the Taliban authorities directed its forces to respect the truce “unless it is violated” by Pakistan, according to a spokesman’s connection connected X.

This impermanent cessation follows a week of escalating violence. The Taliban had initiated offensives on the confederate Pakistani border, prompting Islamabad to endanger decisive retaliation.

Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of sheltering Pakistani Taliban (TTP) fighters, claims that Kabul rejects.

As tensions peaked, 2 explosions successful Kabul connected Wednesday evening sent achromatic fume rising supra the city. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid attributed these to an lipid tanker and generator detonation without linking them to the borderline conflict.

Earlier connected Wednesday, Pakistan’s subject reported that Afghan Taliban fighters assaulted 2 large borderline posts successful the southwest and northwest. It claimed some attacks were successfully repelled, with astir 20 Taliban fighters killed adjacent Spin Boldak successful Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

“Unfortunately, the onslaught was orchestrated done divided villages successful the area, with nary respect for the civilian population,” the Pakistani subject stated. It reported astir 30 further casualties from overnight clashes on Pakistan’s northwestern border.

The Taliban countered that 15 civilians died and dozens were wounded adjacent Spin Boldak, with “two to three” of its fighters besides killed. Spokesman Mujahid claimed 100 civilians were wounded and that Pakistani soldiers had been killed and weapons captured – assertions Pakistan’s subject dismissed arsenic “outrageous and blatant lies”.

While Pakistan did not item its caller casualties, it had antecedently confirmed 23 soldiers killed successful the confrontations past week.

The Taliban authorities claimed it launched its violative successful “retaliation for aerial strikes carried retired by the Pakistani service connected Kabul”. Islamabad pledged a robust effect connected Sunday, aft which galore casualties were reported connected some sides.

In Khost province, Afghan authorities tv writer Abdul Ghafoor Abid was killed Sunday by Pakistani occurrence portion reporting connected the borderline conflict, according to a Taliban official.