Kabul/Islamabad, Oct 15, (dpa/GNA) – A ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan took effect after 5:30 pm (1300 GMT) on Wednesday, following days of deadly cross-border clashes, the Taliban government announced.
“At the request and insistence of the Pakistani side, a ceasefire between the two countries will take effect after 5:30 pm this evening,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
“The Islamic Emirate has instructed all its forces to observe the ceasefire from that time onward, as long as it is not violated by the other side.”
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also confirmed a temporary ceasefire lasting 48 hours. Both Islamabad and Kabul will hold negotiations while the ceasefire is in place to find a permanent solution to end hostilities, the ministry added.
Border clashes between the two countries reignited early Wednesday after both sides accused each other of launching overnight attacks.
Taliban officials said Pakistani shelling in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province killed at least 12 civilians and wounded more than 100 others, including children.
Afghan media also reported that a journalist was killed and another wounded in Paktia province, allegedly by Pakistani forces, while preparing a report near the border.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military accused the Taliban of initiating the clashes by attacking border posts in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. It claimed its forces repelled the assaults and inflicted heavy casualties.
Both sides have claimed to cause significant damage and losses to the other.
There were also reports of Pakistani airstrikes hitting a civilian house in Spin Boldak during the day. Videos shared on social media appeared to show plumes of smoke rising from the area. Other footage showed Afghan Red Crescent workers, handing over at least two bodies to Pakistani forces at the border.
Separately, unconfirmed reports of airstrikes hitting targets in Kabul also circulated on social media. However, Taliban officials said the dark smoke seen rising in the capital was due to a fire at a fuel station. Pakistani intelligence sources told dpa that this was also a drone attack from Islamabad.
The latest violence follows clashes over the weekend along the Durand Line, the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tensions escalated after Pakistani airstrikes targeted Kabul on September 9, with additional strikes hitting a market in Paktika province. In retaliation, Taliban forces reportedly launched attacks along the border.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran urged both sides to show restraint while China and Russia said they were concerned about the clashes.
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan, accuse each other of harbouring militant groups operating across the border.
GNA