Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have reached a temporary 48-hour ceasefire following intense border clashes and reported Pakistani air strikes on Kabul and Kandahar. The ceasefire, effective from 13:00 GMT on Wednesday, was announced amidst conflicting claims from both sides regarding its initiation. Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson reported that 12 civilians had been killed and over 100 injured due to Pakistani firing, though these figures remain unverified. Both parties also claimed significant casualties on the opposing side. The recent violence erupted after explosions in Afghanistan last week, which Kabul attributed to Islamabad. The Taliban has denied allegations of harboring militants targeting Pakistan. On Wednesday, Pakistan’s military stated it had killed 15-20 Afghan Taliban fighters and injured several others in the Spin Boldak border district. In response, the Taliban government claimed numerous Pakistani soldiers had been killed. Later in the day, explosions in Kabul and Kandahar further escalated tensions, prompting Pakistan to announce the ceasefire. Pakistan’s Foreign Office emphasized that both sides would engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the conflict. The Taliban government instructed its forces to respect the ceasefire unless provoked. Pakistani state media reported air strikes in Kandahar and Kabul, though the military has not publicly acknowledged these actions. Taliban sources confirmed to the BBC that Kabul had been hit by two air strikes, with black smoke visible over the capital and streets sealed off. Kabul’s emergency surgical center reported receiving 40 casualties, including five fatalities, following the explosions.