A temporary ceasefire between the Taliban and Pakistan is set to expire at midnight Monday, ending a brief pause in three weeks of cross-border clashes that have left dozens of civilians dead, hundreds wounded and tens of thousands displaced.
The truce, which began March 18 during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, provided a short period of relative calm along parts of the border. However, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement.
During this period, Taliban have reported three instances of Pakistani shelling in Nuristan, Kunar and Paktia, in which, according to their deputy spokesman, three civilians, including a woman and a children, have been killed. However, Pakistan’s information ministry has rejected the allegations baseless.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to what he described as a “decisive” fight against militancy.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to combating terrorism,” Dar said in a statement marking Pakistan’s National Day on March 23. “Actions inside Afghanistan are part of this effort.”
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also defended the military operations, calling them “effective” and warning that Pakistan would not allow militant groups to use Afghanistan’s territory to launch attacks.
“Our message is clear: we will not allow any group to use Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan,” Zardari said.
Analysts say the ceasefire was facilitated by regional mediation efforts, including by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, but caution that a lasting agreement remains unlikely.
“The conflict is unlikely to be resolved through military means,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst. “Continued fighting risks further instability and requires a diplomatic solution.”
Clashes between Taliban and Pakistan, including airstrikes and cross-border exchanges, have now entered their fourth week, marking a sharp deterioration in relations between the two sides.
UN has said that 76 civilians were killed, over 190 others wounded and more than 110,000 people have been displaced in the first two weeks of the clashes. In a recent Pakistani airstrike on a rehab center in Kabul on March 16, at least 200 people were killed, according to sources who spoke to Amu TV. Taliban said 400 people were killed in the attack while UN mission in Afghanistan has confirmed 140 deaths in the strike, according to a Reuters report.
A recent analysis by the Financial Times said that rising tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan have raised concerns that the situation could move toward a broader conflict if not contained.
The report warned that continued fighting could destabilize not only Afghanistan but also the wider South and Central Asian region, underscoring the need for international diplomatic engagement.
Despite the temporary truce, concerns remain over civilian safety, as both sides continue to accuse each other of actions that risk harming noncombatants.
