Kabul: A temporary truce has been agreed upon between Afghanistan and Pakistan following intense clashes that resulted in dozens of deaths and over 100 injuries. The agreement, reached on Wednesday, comes after a series of airstrikes and ground confrontations along the disputed border, which have disrupted the fragile peace established after the Taliban’s rise to power in Kabul in 2021.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the recent escalation was triggered by Pakistan’s demands for Afghan authorities to control armed groups allegedly launching attacks from within Afghanistan. These groups are claimed to have safe havens in Afghan territory. The Taliban, however, refuted these accusations, charging the Pakistani military with spreading misinformation to heighten border tensions and accusing them of harboring ISIS-linked factions within Pakistan to destabilize Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement declaring a “temporary ceasefire” for 48 hours, commencing at 1:00 PM GMT on Wednesday. This decision was reportedly made following a request from Kabul. In contrast, Afghan Taliban government Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the ceasefire was initiated at Pakistan’s insistence, with Kabul instructing its forces to maintain the truce unless provoked by new hostile actions from Pakistan.

The situation intensified on Wednesday with a Pakistani airstrike in Kandahar province, targeting the border town of Spin Boldak. Both Afghan and Pakistani officials confirmed the action, with Pakistani security sources claiming the strike aimed at a Taliban unit, resulting in numerous fatalities, though no evidence was provided to support the reported toll.