Pakistan has launched air strikes inside Afghanistan, resulting in at least 10 deaths and breaking a 48-hour ceasefire that had provided two days of relative calm along the border following a period of intense violence, according to Afghan officials. The truce had temporarily halted nearly a week of violent clashes that left dozens of soldiers and civilians injured or killed on both sides.
A senior Taliban official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, stated that Pakistan bombed three locations in Paktika province late on Friday. The official said Afghanistan would respond with retaliation. According to a provincial hospital official, also speaking anonymously, ten civilians were killed and twelve others were wounded in the attacks, including two children.
In response to the attacks, an Afghan government spokesperson announced that officials from both countries would hold crisis talks in Doha on Saturday. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson, confirmed the meeting, adding that a high-level Afghan delegation led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob had departed for the discussions.
Pakistani state television reported that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik would also travel to Doha for talks with the Afghan Taliban.
Earlier on Saturday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) released a statement confirming that three players participating in a tournament in the region were killed in the air strikes, along with five other individuals. Seven others were injured, the ACB said. The board described the attack as “cowardly” and attributed it to the Pakistani regime. It also announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, scheduled for next month.
The ACB stated that the cricketers were targeted during a gathering in Urgun district after returning home from a friendly match in Sharana, the capital of Paktika province. The board expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling it a significant blow to Afghanistan’s sports community and the broader cricketing family.
In Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP that forces had conducted precision aerial strikes in Afghan border areas targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a local faction linked to the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Islamabad claimed the group was responsible for a suicide bombing and gun attack at a military camp in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which resulted in the deaths of seven Pakistani paramilitary troops.
Cross-border tensions have been fueled by accusations from Pakistan that Afghanistan is harboring armed groups, including the TTP, on its soil. Kabul has denied these allegations.
The violence escalated sharply since last Saturday, following explosions in Kabul just as the Taliban’s foreign minister began an unprecedented visit to India, Pakistan’s longstanding rival. In response, the Taliban launched an offensive along parts of its southern border with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to announce a strong counter-response.
The ceasefire, which began at 13:00 GMT on Wednesday, was initially set to last 48 hours. However, Kabul stated that it would remain in effect until Pakistan violated it.
Before the latest strikes, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that 37 people were killed and 425 injured on the Afghan side of the border. The mission called on both nations to seek a lasting end to hostilities.
In Spin Boldak, a region that experienced intense fighting, hundreds attended funerals on Thursday, including those of children wrapped in white shrouds. Residents expressed mixed emotions about the situation. Nematullah, 42, told AFP that while people feared a resumption of violence, many still went about their daily lives.
Earlier on Friday, some residents described a return to normalcy. Nani, 35, said, “Everything is fine, everything is open.” She added, “I’m not afraid, but everyone sees things differently. Some say they’re going to send their children elsewhere as the situation isn’t good, but I don’t think anything will happen.” Nani did not provide her surname.
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