Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers say a ceasefire with Pakistan took effect Wednesday after days of deadly cross-border clashes that saw Pakistan launch airstrikes on Kabul and Taliban forces retaliate along the frontier.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers announced a ceasefire with Pakistan on Wednesday following a wave of cross-border violence that killed dozens and prompted rare Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said “at least 12 civilians were killed and more than 100 others wounded” in attacks by Pakistani forces in Kandahar. The U.N. mission in Afghanistan confirmed “scores of killed and injured Afghan civilians” and urged an “immediate end to hostilities.”
Mujahid said the ceasefire took effect “at the request and insistence of the Pakistani side” at 5:30 p.m. local time, warning Taliban forces would continue to hold fire “as long as no one commits an act of aggression.”
Pakistan’s army denied launching the attacks, calling such claims “outrageous and blatant lies,” but reaffirmed it was “fully prepared to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.” Relations between both sides have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban seized power in 2021.