At the request and insistence of the Pakistani side, Afghanistan has agreed for a ceasefire this evening amid deepening hostilities and deadly clashes. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Taliban has instructed all its forces to observe the ceasefire, as long as no violation or aggression takes place.

 

 

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan’s Taliban government said that the Pakistani forces once again launched an unprovoked attack in Spin Boldak this morning. Zabihullah Mujahid said that in response, Afghan forces killed several Pakistani soldiers and captured their posts, weapons and military tanks. He said, that around 12 Afghani civilians have been killed and more than 100 others injured in unprovoked pakistani aatack. He added that Afghan forces were subsequently compelled to launch a counteroffensive.

 

 

Earlier today, United Nations had showed concern over border clashes between the two countries. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, said that, he was concerned about numerous civilian casualties and people being forced to leave their homes due to the fighting.

 

 

Last week, Pakistani forces reportedly carried out airstrikes in Barmal district, Paktika province, violating Afghan airspace. In response, the Afghanistan forces launched retaliatory strikes along the Durand Line in several locations, capturing around 20 Pakistani border posts, killing 58 soldiers, and wounding about 30.