Kabul, Afghanistan / Islamabad, Pakistan — October 15, 2025

A 48-hour ceasefire has been agreed upon following a fresh round of deadly border skirmishes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which claimed the lives of dozens of troops and civilians on both sides. The announcement came hours after escalating violence along the southern and northwestern frontiers of the two neighboring countries.

The ceasefire, declared by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, follows a week of heightened tensions triggered by explosions in Kabul and other locations in Afghanistan, which Islamabad attributed to militant activities allegedly supported from Afghan soil. In response, the Taliban government in Kabul launched retaliatory offensives along parts of the southern border, prompting Pakistan to vow a strong counter-response.

Casualties and Damage

According to Pakistani military sources, approximately 20 Taliban fighters were killed during assaults on border posts near Spin Boldak in southern Kandahar province, while additional clashes along Pakistan’s northwest border reportedly left 30 more dead. Pakistani officials did not disclose their own troop losses in the latest attacks, though 23 soldiers were killed in earlier skirmishes.

The Afghan Taliban reported 15 civilian deaths and dozens of injuries in Spin Boldak, with “two to three” Taliban fighters killed. The group also claimed that 100 civilians were wounded in the initial clashes, though Pakistani authorities called these figures “outrageous and blatant lies.”

Residents described scenes of chaos, with homes and businesses damaged, streets deserted, and families fleeing the fighting. One Spin Boldak resident told AFP, “Houses were fired upon, including my cousin’s. His son and wife were killed, and four children were wounded.”

Cause of the Escalation

The conflict escalated after Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harboring Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militants, claims the Taliban government in Kabul denies. Pakistan alleges the TTP, trained in Afghanistan and ideologically aligned with the Taliban, has been responsible for hundreds of Pakistani military casualties since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The latest flare-up began Saturday evening after Kabul conducted operations in at least five provinces along the border, reportedly in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Explosions in Kabul on Wednesday, involving an oil tanker and generator, sparked fires and widespread damage, though Taliban officials did not explicitly link them to the border clashes.

Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire, announced by Islamabad, was accepted by the Taliban, who instructed their army to respect the truce. Both sides have expressed hope that the temporary halt in hostilities will allow for de-escalation, though tensions remain high along the heavily militarized border.

Humanitarian and Regional Impact

The renewed clashes have caused significant civilian suffering, with reports of families displaced, schools and businesses closed, and emergency services overwhelmed. Analysts warn that continued instability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border threatens regional security and could exacerbate tensions among neighboring countries.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif noted in parliament that repeated attempts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting the TTP had failed, highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving a durable peace.