Ceasefire violation leads to casualties as peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan loom.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least ten individuals, which included two children. This escalation occurred despite a temporary ceasefire agreement that had been established between the two nations amid ongoing border clashes. Reports indicate that the ceasefire, reached on Wednesday, was intended to last for 48 hours, according to Islamabad. However, Kabul claimed the ceasefire would remain effective until Pakistan violated it.
On Friday, an unnamed official from the Taliban administration stated that Pakistan had breached the ceasefire agreement by targeting three locations in Paktika province. The official remarked that Afghanistan would retaliate in response to this violation. The airstrikes resulted in not only fatalities but also left twelve others injured, as confirmed by a hospital official in the province.
Among those killed were three Afghan cricketers: Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) acknowledged their deaths on social media, noting that the players had recently traveled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika, for a friendly match. Upon returning home to Urgun, they were reportedly attacked during a gathering. The ACB expressed deep sorrow over the loss, considering it a significant blow to Afghanistan’s sports community and cricketing family. Following the incident, the board announced its withdrawal from an upcoming tri-nation T20 tournament that included Pakistan, scheduled for November.
The recent violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan had intensified following a series of explosions in Afghanistan on October 9, which Kabul attributed to Islamabad. In contrast, Pakistan has not taken responsibility for these explosions. The ceasefire agreement reached on Wednesday had temporarily halted what had been the deadliest fighting between the two countries since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of providing refuge to militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, the Afghan government has denied these allegations. As tensions continued to rise, the timing of the violence coincided with preparations for peace talks in Doha set to occur on Saturday. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, confirmed that negotiations with the Pakistani delegation were scheduled for that day. A high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, departed for Doha for the discussions.
Pakistan’s state television also reported on the forthcoming talks, indicating that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik would travel to Doha to engage in discussions with the Afghan Taliban. The situation remains delicate as both sides navigate the complexities of their relationship amid ongoing violence and the prospect of dialogue.