Pakistan has reignited cross-border tensions with fresh airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Paktika province, shattering a fragile two-day ceasefire. The aerial attacks, which targeted residential areas in the Argun and Barmal districts, occurred just 48 hours after both nations agreed to a temporary halt in deadly border violence. Taliban officials confirmed the bombings, with sources indicating that Pakistan initiated the breach of the truce.
These strikes came mere hours before the scheduled expiration of the ceasefire, extinguishing hopes of de-escalation or diplomatic solutions to long-standing border disputes. The 48-hour truce, initiated on Wednesday evening, followed a week of intense clashes that resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including civilians.
Initial reports on Friday had hinted at a potential extension of the ceasefire, fostering a brief period of cautious optimism for dialogue. However, these expectations were abruptly dashed as Pakistani aircraft crossed into Afghan airspace. The recent escalation traces back to Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul on October 9, 2025, targeting a Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader. This action prompted retaliatory responses from Afghan Taliban forces, escalating skirmishes into severe confrontations. The core of the conflict lies in disputes over the Durand Line border and militant infiltration. Pakistan alleges that the Afghan government harbors Pakistani Taliban militants, while Kabul denies this and accuses Islamabad of violating its sovereignty through unauthorized military actions.
