Both Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire amid growing border clashes between the nations. Pakistan said both nations would utilise the window to identify a "constructive solution" for the ongoing clashes.
While Pakistan claimed the ceasefire was requested by Afghanistan, the Taliban maintained "Islamabad insisted" on the ceasefire. In a statement, Pakistan Foreign Office said, "A temporary ceasefire has been decided between the Pakistani government and the Afghan Taliban regime, with the mutual consent of both parties, for the next 48 hours from 6pm today, at the request of the Taliban."
"During this period, both sides will make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue," it added.
Meanwhile, the Taliban maintained that Pakistan insisted on a ceasefire. Confirming the truce, Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X, "At the request and insistence of the Pakistani side, the ceasefire between the two countries will begin after 5.30pm today. The Islamic Emirate also directs all its forces to adhere to the ceasefire and not to violate it after 5.30pm today unless there is a violation."
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Pakistan's armed forces claimed it conducted precision strikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar province and the capital Kabul. Pakistan claimed "major gains" in its precision strikes against Afghanistan. "Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action against Afghan Taliban aggression, key hideouts destroyed. These precision strikes were carried out in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. As a result of these strikes, Afghan Taliban Battalion Number 4 and Border Brigade Number 6 completely destroyed. Dozens of foreign and Afghan operatives killed," Dawn reported, quoting Pakistan defence forces.
Pakistan Army also claimed it repulsed multiple attacks by the Afghan Taliban while killing over 40 attackers in separate incidents of border clashes between the two countries.
