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Islamabad/Kabul:
Tensions flared along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border this week as deadly clashes between troops from both nations left *dozens of soldiers and civilians dead, prompting *Pakistan to carry out retaliatory airstrikes near Kabul. The violence, which erupted late Tuesday night, has once again strained the already fragile ties between the two neighbours.
According to officials, heavy cross-border shelling began after Afghan forces allegedly opened fire on Pakistani positions in the Spin Boldak–Chaman sector, a key crossing point in Balochistan province. Pakistan’s military said it responded “decisively” to the attacks, targeting what it described as “terrorist hideouts” across the frontier.
Afghan officials, however, accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and claimed that airstrikes near Kabul’s outskirts resulted in civilian casualties. “Pakistan’s aggression will not be tolerated,” an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the Taliban-led government had lodged a formal protest with Islamabad.
By Wednesday morning, *both sides confirmed a temporary 48-hour ceasefire, reportedly requested by each other to de-escalate tensions. Border officials said the truce took effect at dawn and that efforts were being made to *recover bodies and provide medical aid to the wounded.
Regional analysts warned that the situation could spiral if not contained swiftly. “These are some of the worst clashes in recent months,” said South Asia security expert Rahimullah Yusufzai. “A sustained conflict would not only destabilise the border areas but also undermine broader peace efforts in the region.”
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border, known as the *Durand Line, has long been a flashpoint for disputes, with both sides trading accusations over *cross-border militant attacks and *harbouring insurgents. Despite repeated talks, *security cooperation remains fragile since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
For now, the ceasefire offers a brief window of calm, though skepticism remains high. “We have agreed to a truce,” one Pakistani official said, “but trust will take far longer to rebuild.”
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like Al Jazeera, Reuters, Dawn (Pakistan), TOLOnews (Afghanistan), etc.) transparently.]
