A fragile 48-hour ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to one of the deadliest escalations between Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent years. The truce followed days of intense cross-border fighting that left more than 200 people dead, including at least 15 Afghan civilians, and deepened public anger across Afghanistan against Islamabad’s military actions.
The ceasefire, brokered late on Wednesday with mediation from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, came after Pakistan pleaded with the two nations to intervene. “For God’s sake, stop Afghans from fighting,” Pakistani officials reportedly told mediators, according to Tolo News.
The truce follows a week of hostilities that began when Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting what it claimed were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts inside Afghanistan. The strikes, however, hit civilian areas in Kabul and Kandahar, killing 15 people and injuring more than 100, according to Afghan officials. In retaliation, Taliban fighters launched counterattacks across the Durand Line, capturing several Pakistani border outposts, seizing tanks and weapons, and displaying what they said were the belongings of fleeing Pakistani soldiers.
In one striking symbol of Pakistan’s humiliation, BBC journalist Daud Junbish shared an image showing Taliban fighters holding up the trousers and rifles allegedly left behind by Pakistani troops. “Empty trousers, recovered from abandoned military posts of the Pakistani army near the Durand Line, are displayed in eastern Nangrahar province, Afghanistan,” Junbish wrote on social media.
The Taliban’s counteroffensive reportedly destroyed 20 Pakistani security outposts and killed 58 soldiers, according to Afghan claims. Pakistan’s military, meanwhile, said it had killed more than 200 Taliban fighters and their allies. The violence has forced border crossings at Chaman and Torkham to shut, effectively sealing the frontier between the two nations.
Afghans rally behind the Taliban against Pakistan
The conflict has united Afghans behind the Taliban regime, with many civilians publicly vowing to defend the country against Pakistan’s aggression. “If needed, we will also join the Mujahideen and the army of the Islamic Emirate on the battlefield,” Mohibullah, a resident of Kandahar, told Tolo News.
Another resident, Baitullah from Paktia, said, “The Islamic Emirate gave them a proper response. All the people are standing with them against Pakistan.”
Kabul resident Abdul Ghafour voiced similar defiance. “We defend the Islamic Emirate and our country. No foreigner has the right to interfere in our homeland,” he said.
Even ordinary Afghans, weary of war, appeared ready to support the Taliban as long as Pakistan continued its attacks. “The Islamic Emirate does not seek conflict with anyone, but Pakistan continues to oppress us,” said Kabul Jan of Paktia.
Women, too, have expressed solidarity with the fighters. “We thank the security forces who have always defended our land. We will always stand with them and support them in any way we can,” Fereshta, a resident of Kabul, told Tolo News.
A war rooted in a colonial line
At the heart of the renewed fighting lies the century-old Durand Line, a colonial boundary drawn by the British that divided the Pashtun homeland between Afghanistan and what later became Pakistan. The border has never been accepted by successive Afghan governments or by Pashtun tribes on either side.
Over the weekend, fierce clashes erupted at several points along this disputed border. Afghan officials accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating Afghan airspace, while Islamabad accused the Taliban of sheltering TTP militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
However, many Afghans view Pakistan’s offensive as a direct assault on their sovereignty. The scenes of captured tanks, destroyed Pakistani posts, and the now-viral image of the “empty trousers” have become powerful symbols of defiance against what Afghans see as decades of Pakistani interference in their country’s affairs.
Ceasefire offers little hope for lasting peace
Despite the temporary truce, both sides remain on high alert. Afghan fighters continue to fortify positions along the Durand Line, while Pakistan has reportedly moved reinforcements closer to the border. Analysts warn that the situation could quickly spiral again if either side perceives a violation of the ceasefire.
The war has already widened the deep mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan’s decision to carry out airstrikes on Afghan soil has been condemned as reckless and shortsighted, especially at a time when the Taliban government faces growing domestic challenges.
While calm may briefly return to the border, the anger on Afghan streets suggests that peace will be hard to sustain. As one Afghan observer remarked, Pakistan’s long shadow over its western neighbor may finally be turning into its own nightmare.
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