Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to 48-Hour Cease-Fire After Border Airstrike and Clashes

Overview

• The truce took effect Wednesday for 48 hours, which Pakistan said followed a request from Kabul and which the Taliban described as occurring at Pakistan's insistence, with Afghan forces ordered to comply if no new attacks occur.
• Officials from both sides confirmed a Pakistani airstrike on Spin Boldak in Kandahar, with Pakistan claiming it targeted a Taliban brigade and Afghanistan reporting residential areas were hit and at least 12 civilians were killed and 100 wounded, none independently verified.
• Each side accused the other of launching ground attacks, as Pakistan reported four civilians wounded in Chaman and separate fighting in Orakzai left six paramilitary soldiers and nine militants dead, according to security officials cited by Reuters.
• Multiple border crossings were closed during the escalation, stalling vital trade and leaving cargo trucks stranded, with Afghanistan heavily reliant on goods moving through the Spin Boldak–Chaman corridor.
• China and Russia urged restraint, the United States signaled willingness to help reduce tensions, and the UN human rights chief welcomed the pause and called for protecting civilians.