A 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan came into effect late on March 14, 2024, following a series of violent clashes that resulted in numerous casualties. Officials from both nations confirmed the truce commenced at 18:00 Islamabad time (12:00 AEDT), with each side stating the other had requested the cessation of hostilities to address the escalating violence along their shared border.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that during the ceasefire, both countries would engage in constructive dialogue to seek a lasting resolution to the ongoing tensions. “During this period, both sides will sincerely strive to find a positive solution to this complex but resolvable issue,” the statement read. Meanwhile, the Taliban government in Afghanistan ordered its military to adhere to the truce, as long as the ceasefire was not violated by Pakistani forces.
This temporary agreement followed a week marked by violent exchanges. Just prior to the ceasefire, the Taliban reportedly initiated offensives along its southern border, leading to Islamabad’s commitment to a strong military response. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim denied by Kabul.
Escalating Violence and Casualties
The recent conflict saw plumes of smoke rise over Kabul after two explosions occurred on the evening of March 14. An Italian NGO operating a hospital in the capital reported at least five fatalities and 35 injuries resulting from these blasts. “We started receiving ambulances filled with wounded people, and we learned that there had been explosions a few kilometres away from our hospital,” stated Dejan Panic, the organization’s country director in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s military accused the Afghan Taliban of assaulting two significant border posts earlier that day, which they claimed had been repelled, resulting in the deaths of approximately 20 Taliban fighters. They described the attacks as occurring “with no regard for the civil population.” Concurrently, Pakistani officials noted an additional 30 fatalities in overnight clashes along the northwestern border.
Conversely, the Taliban reported that their forces suffered losses as well, claiming that 15 civilians were killed near Spin Boldak, along with “two to three” of their fighters. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned earlier that around 100 civilians were injured in the clashes, asserting that calm returned after their forces successfully engaged Pakistani soldiers.
Context of the Conflict
The recent escalation is part of a broader pattern of conflict between the two nations, which has been exacerbated by accusations of cross-border militancy. In a separate incident, a senior security official in Peshawar reported that seven Pakistani frontier troops lost their lives during an attack on a checkpoint, a situation attributed to the relatively new Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen armed group.
The Taliban have claimed these offensives were retaliatory actions in response to airstrikes conducted by Pakistani forces. Following these skirmishes, Islamabad vowed a robust military response, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The ongoing tensions have raised alarms regarding regional stability, and the immediate impact of the ceasefire will be closely monitored by both governments as well as international observers.
