Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Temporary Ceasefire After Day of Airstrikes and Ground Fighting

A fragile truce has been established along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following a day of intense fighting that left over a dozen civilians dead. The temporary 48-hour ceasefire, requested by Afghanistan, began at 6:30 pm on Wednesday and was prompted by Kabul's order to observe the truce if the other side did not commit aggression. The ceasefire comes after a day of airstrikes and ground fighting, with each side accusing the other of launching attacks.

Key Takeaways:

• Pakistan carried out airstrikes on the Afghan border province of Kandahar, hitting the town of Spin Boldak, which resulted in over a dozen civilian deaths and 100 wounded.
• Afghanistan's defence ministry spokesperson, Enayatullah Khowarazmi, confirmed that residential areas of Spin Boldak were hit.
• A surgical centre in Kabul, run by non-governmental organization EMERGENCY, received 40 people, including five dead, after being struck by an airstrike.
• Each side accused the other of launching ground attacks, with the Afghan Taliban reporting over a dozen civilian deaths and 100 wounded.
• Pakistan denied launching attacks on Spin Boldak and claimed four of its civilians were wounded in attacks by "Taliban forces" in the district of Chaman.
• Violence between the two neighbours has flared since explosions in Afghanistan on October 9, which Kabul blamed on Islamabad.
• The ceasefire is temporary, lasting 48 hours, and was requested by Afghanistan.

Statistics:

• Over a dozen civilians killed in the airstrikes and ground fighting.
• 100 people wounded in the attacks, according to the Afghan Taliban.
• 40 people, including five dead, received treatment at a surgical centre in Kabul.
• Four Pakistani civilians reported wounded in attacks by "Taliban forces" in the district of Chaman.
• Permissions from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka.

Sources:

• Reuters
• BBC
• Daily Mirror Sri Lanka