Pakistan initiated fresh airstrikes targeting residential areas in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Friday evening, effectively breaking a two-day ceasefire. The aerial attacks in the Argun and Barmal districts shattered the fragile peace that had been in place for less than 48 hours, reigniting deadly border tensions between the neighboring countries. Taliban officials have corroborated the airstrikes, asserting that Pakistan violated the agreed-upon truce.
The collapse of the ceasefire, which was set to expire on Friday evening, has extinguished hopes for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement aimed at resolving underlying border disputes. The 48-hour truce commenced on Wednesday evening, following a week of severe cross-border clashes that resulted in numerous fatalities, including both military personnel and civilians.
Earlier on Friday, there had been indications that the temporary ceasefire might be extended, fostering a brief period of cautious optimism for a move towards dialogue. This sentiment quickly evaporated as Pakistani aircraft conducted strikes within Afghan territory. The current escalation stems from Pakistani airstrikes conducted in Kabul on October 9, 2025, targeting a TTP leader following TTP-perpetrated attacks on Pakistani soldiers. This incident triggered retaliatory actions by the Afghan Taliban, intensifying border skirmishes and leading to casualties. The persistent conflict is fueled by disputes over the Durand Line border and the presence of militants crossing it, with mutual accusations of harboring militants and violating territorial integrity.