Ceasefire Broken: Pakistan Airstrikes Hit Afghan Paktika Province

Pakistan shattered a fragile two-day ceasefire Friday evening with renewed airstrikes on Afghan territory, targeting residential zones in Paktika province. This abrupt violation occurred only 48 hours after both nations committed to halting deadly border confrontations. Reports from the ground indicate Pakistani military aircraft conducted bombing raids in the Argun and Barmal districts, hitting civilian areas. Taliban representatives confirmed the attacks to international media, stating that Pakistan had broken the agreed truce. The airstrikes preempted the formal end of the ceasefire, dashing hopes for a de-escalation and potential diplomatic talks to resolve underlying issues. The 48-hour pause, which commenced Wednesday evening, was a response to a week of intense fighting that had already resulted in significant casualties on both sides, including non-combatants. Earlier on Friday, there was cautious optimism regarding a possible extension of the truce, but Pakistani aircraft crossing into Afghan airspace extinguished these prospects. The current tensions escalated following Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul on October 9, 2025, which targeted a TTP leader after TTP-claimed attacks on Pakistani soldiers. This prompted counter-attacks by Afghan Taliban forces, leading to heightened border skirmishes. The persistent conflict is fueled by ongoing disputes over the Durand Line border and the presence of militants who operate across it, creating a volatile environment.