Tensions Flare: Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Afghan Province

Pakistan violated a fragile two-day ceasefire on Friday evening by launching fresh airstrikes targeting residential areas in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. The attacks, concentrated in the Argun and Barmal districts, reignited fierce tensions between the neighboring countries, just 48 hours after they had agreed to a temporary halt in deadly border violence. Taliban officials confirmed the Pakistani aerial bombardment and stated that Islamabad had broken the established truce. This development abruptly ended any optimism for a de-escalation or the initiation of diplomatic discussions to resolve underlying grievances. The 48-hour ceasefire, which began Wednesday, had followed a week of intense clashes that resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Hopes for an extension of this brief respite, which had been circulating earlier on Friday, evaporated with the Pakistani military action. The current conflict’s roots lie in Pakistan’s October 9, 2025, airstrikes in Kabul against a TTP leader, which prompted retaliatory actions from the Afghan Taliban. The disputed Durand Line border and the issue of militant sanctuaries continue to be major points of contention, fueling persistent violence.