The 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, announced on October 15, has been extended until the end of talks expected to begin tomorrow in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Dawn newspaper, citing an anonymous high-level diplomatic source, reported that the 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been extended. The source stated that the ceasefire was extended until the end of the talks in Doha, and that the talks were expected to begin tomorrow. The source claimed that the ceasefire was extended at Afghanistan’s request. Meanwhile, Tolo News shared a post on the social media platform of US-based company X, citing unnamed sources in Qatar. The post stated that the ceasefire had been extended until the end of the talks scheduled to begin tomorrow in Doha, claiming that this was at Pakistan’s request. No information was given regarding the end of the talks.
MUTUAL ATTACK ALLEGATION
A post by Tolo News, citing unnamed sources on the social media account of US-based company X, alleged that Pakistan had carried out airstrikes on the Arghun and Barmal regions of Afghanistan’s Paktika province. Another post by Tolo News, citing unnamed sources, reported that six people, including two children, were killed and seven others, including six women and one child, were injured as a result of the Pakistani attacks. Meanwhile, another post by Tolo News, citing unnamed sources, claimed that Afghan forces had launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistan. No official statement has been released by either party on the matter.
PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN TENSION
Pakistan conducted several airstrikes on Kabul on October 9th as part of its “fight against the TTP organization.” On October 11th, Afghan security forces responded with extensive attacks on Pakistani outposts in the border region, and clashes flared up in some areas. The Afghan government announced that the clashes had ceased thanks to mediation by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, tensions escalated again on the border on October 14. Pakistan announced a 48-hour temporary ceasefire on October 15, following Afghanistan’s request for a ceasefire.
PAKISTAN DEMANDS PRECAUTIONS
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has been demanding that the new administration take measures against the TTP. The Islamabad government states that the TTP, which it classifies as a “terrorist organization” and has carried out numerous attacks on its territory, is based in Afghanistan, while the Kabul government has failed to take measures against the organization. The Afghan government maintains that the TTP does not operate on its territory. The TTP actively exploits the Pashtun tribal zone, which spans the Durand Line, established during the British colonial era and serving as the de facto border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
