Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict: 10 Civilians Killed in Ceasefire Breakdown

Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict: 10 Civilians Killed in Ceasefire Breakdown, deepening tensions. At least 10 civilians were killed and 12 others injured after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province late on Friday, according to Afghan officials.
The attacks came just hours after both countries mutually agreed to extend a 48-hour ceasefire, raising fears that the conflict along the volatile Durand Line could spiral further.

“Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika,” a senior Taliban official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Afghanistan will retaliate.”

Sources told Afghan media outlet TOLOnews that the strikes hit houses in Argun and Bermal districts, killing eight residents, including local Afghan cricketers returning from a match.

Sayed Naseem Sadaat, spokesman for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), confirmed the deaths: “Eight local cricketers were travelling back to Urgun district after playing a match when they were killed.”

Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict: 10 Civilians Killed in Ceasefire Breakdown

Civilians and Athletes Among the Dead

A provincial hospital official told AFP that two children were among the 10 dead, with several others receiving treatment for shrapnel and burn injuries.Images shared by residents showed homes reduced to rubble and rescue workers searching for survivors under debris.

The ACB condemned the strikes in a statement posted on social media:

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening.”

It added:

“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.”

The board said the cricketers were “targeted during a gathering” in Urgun district after returning from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital. As a mark of protest, the ACB announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, calling the decision “a gesture of respect to the victims.”

Pakistan Confirms ‘Precision Strikes’

A senior Pakistani security official confirmed to AFP that the country’s forces had “conducted precision aerial strikes” in Afghan border areas targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a local faction linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“The ceasefire was struck with the Afghan Taliban, not with the Islamist militants holed up in Afghanistan who continue launching attacks in Pakistan,” the official said.

Islamabad accused the Bahadur group of carrying out a suicide bombing and gun attack at a military camp in North Waziristan earlier in the day, which killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13 others.

According to officials, a militant drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the boundary wall of the Khaddi military camp in Mir Ali, while two other attackers tried to storm the compound but were shot dead by security forces.

The TTP claimed responsibility, saying its Khalid bin Waleed suicide unit and Tehreek Taliban Gulbahadar faction carried out the coordinated assault.

Ceasefire Extension Ends in Violence

The renewed airstrikes came less than a day after both sides agreed to extend a fragile 48-hour truce, which began Wednesday evening after nearly a week of intense border clashes.

The temporary ceasefire had paused fighting that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides and displaced families in Khost, Paktika, and Kurram regions.

Officials from both governments had confirmed plans to hold crisis talks in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday to seek a longer-term de-escalation mechanism.

“As promised, negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said earlier in a statement.

He added that a high-level Afghan delegation, led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, had departed for Doha. Pakistani state TV later reported that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik would represent Islamabad at the talks.

But within hours of Mujahid’s announcement, reports of airstrikes in Paktika province emerged, prompting Afghan officials to declare the ceasefire “broken.”

Witness Accounts: ‘Everything Changed in Minutes’

Residents of Argun district described scenes of panic as explosions lit up the night sky.
“Everything was quiet after two days of peace, then we heard planes overhead,” said Ahmad Shah, 42, a shopkeeper. “A few minutes later, there were blasts everywhere. Houses were burning.”

Local cleric Maulvi Hussain Gul said families had gathered for evening prayers when the bombs hit.
“Eight bodies were recovered from one house alone,” he told TOLOnews by phone. “Among them were young cricketers who had just returned home.”

Humanitarian agencies in eastern Afghanistan warned that civilian casualties could rise as rescue operations continued. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged restraint, recalling that earlier in the week it had recorded 37 deaths and 425 wounded during cross-border shelling.

Pakistan’s Rationale and Security Concerns

Islamabad maintains that its operations were aimed solely at militant factions responsible for recent attacks inside Pakistan.

In an earlier briefing, the Pakistani military said the airstrikes targeted “terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil” and were conducted in self-defence.

Security officials insist the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and other TTP-linked cells have staged several suicide bombings and ambushes in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan since August.

“Wherever the source of terrorism is, it will have to pay a heavy price,” Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

He accused Kabul of “acting as a proxy of India” and “plotting against Pakistan,” adding that future actions would no longer be framed as peace gestures:

“From now on, demarches will no longer be framed as appeals for peace, and delegations will not be sent to Kabul.”

Taliban: ‘We Will Defend Our Country’

The Taliban administration, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of violating the truce and Afghan sovereignty.

“Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika,” the senior Taliban official told AFP. “Afghanistan will retaliate.”

In an interview with Afghan TV channel Ariana, Mujahid said Taliban forces had been ordered not to attack unless fired upon, but retained the right to defend national territory:

“If they do, then you have every right to defend your country,” he told troops through a televised address.

Analysts said the remarks signalled Kabul’s readiness to respond militarily if further airstrikes occur.

Deadliest Cross-Border Violence Since 2021

The latest escalation marks the worst outbreak of hostilities between the two neighbours since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.

Fighting erupted on October 11, when Afghan forces reportedly attacked several Pakistani border posts, prompting retaliatory air and artillery fire.

According to Taliban officials, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the early days of the conflict, while Pakistan’s military said it lost 23 personnel but killed more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists.”

Residents along the Spin Boldak–Chaman corridor described scenes of mourning after days of shelling. “People have mixed feelings,” said Nematullah, 42. “They fear fighting will resume, but they still go about their business.”

Earlier Friday, residents told AFP that “everything was fine” and “everything is open,” only for airstrikes to resume later that night.

Doha Talks in Jeopardy

The planned peace talks in Doha now appear uncertain. Both sides had sent delegations before the strikes occurred, but Afghan officials said Saturday’s meeting would focus primarily on condemning Pakistan’s “violation of sovereignty.”

Mujahid confirmed the Afghan delegation’s arrival in Qatar but declined to comment on whether discussions would continue after the bombings.

Diplomatic sources told Reuters that mediators from Qatar and China were exploring ways to salvage the dialogue.

Regional analysts say the airstrikes could undermine months of back-channel diplomacy aimed at stabilising the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“Trust has been broken again, and this time it will take more than promises to rebuild it,” said Islamabad-based political analyst Huma Yusuf.

Military Balance and Asymmetric Warfare

While Pakistan holds a decisive technological and numerical edge, Taliban fighters have leveraged terrain familiarity and guerrilla tactics to offset some disadvantages.

The Pakistani military comprises over 650,000 active personnel, including 560,000 in the army and 70,000 in the air force, backed by Chinese-supplied JF-17 Thunder jets and attack helicopters.

The Taliban, by comparison, field roughly 172,000 fighters, many hardened by two decades of insurgency. Their strength lies in mobility and local support networks rather than heavy weaponry.

Military experts warn that Pakistan’s reliance on aerial and artillery strikes risks inflaming anti-Pakistan sentiment in Afghanistan, potentially strengthening TTP-Taliban linkages.

Regional and International Reactions

The United Nations and humanitarian groups have urged both countries to show restraint.
UNAMA reiterated calls for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and protection of civilians.

Neighbouring Iran and China, both of which share strategic ties with Kabul and Islamabad, have expressed concern that prolonged conflict could destabilise regional trade routes.

In New Delhi, India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment but reiterated its support for “peace and stability in Afghanistan,” amid Islamabad’s accusation that Kabul was acting as “India’s proxy.”

Human Toll and Local Anger

As rescue teams continued clearing debris in Paktika, survivors recounted losing family members.
“Two of my cousins were playing cricket. They came home happy. Within minutes, everything was gone,” said Gul Rahim, 27.

Funerals were held across villages on Saturday, with mourners wrapping bodies in white shrouds and chanting prayers.

Human rights activists condemned the attacks as indiscriminate. “Even if militants were the intended targets, hitting civilian homes and sports gatherings is unacceptable under international law,” said Kabul-based analyst Sahar Amiri.

Prospects of Escalation

Analysts warn that continued hostilities could push Pakistan and the Taliban into a cycle of retaliation, with both sides blaming each other for border insecurity.

“Neither side can afford an all-out war, but miscalculation is a real risk,” said former Pakistani diplomat Zafar Hilaly. “Without a neutral mediator, the situation could deteriorate quickly.”

Pakistan’s military establishment faces domestic pressure following multiple attacks by TTP militants, while the Taliban leadership in Kabul risks appearing weak if it fails to respond.

Conclusion: Fragile Peace Under Threat

The collapse of the ceasefire underscores the fragility of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, two nations long entangled by history, geography, and insurgency. While both sides publicly commit to dialogue, the renewed airstrikes have eroded trust and inflamed public anger, making a return to negotiations difficult.

For civilians along the border, the concern is immediate — another night of uncertainty. “People just want peace,” said Nani, 35, from Spin Boldak. “But every time they say there is a truce, bombs start again.”

As the smoke clears over Paktika, both governments face a familiar question: how to prevent the next round of violence before it becomes another long-drawn border war.

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