Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of breaking truce as 10 killed in air attacks

Pakistan has broken a long-held ceasefire in Afghanistan, launching surprise air attacks that have killed at least 10 civilians and wounded several others. The airstrikes, which targeted locations in the Paktika province, came after nearly two days of relative calm along the border.

Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of violating the truce, which was meant to bring a measure of stability to the region. A senior Taliban official confirmed that Pakistani forces had bombed three locations in Paktika province late on Friday, sparking widespread outrage among Afghan civilians.

The attacks have also drawn condemnation from international leaders, with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan calling for an end to hostilities between the two countries. The UN warned that nearly 400 people were killed and over 400 wounded in cross-border violence since last Saturday, when clashes escalated dramatically along the border.

Pakistan has maintained that it was targeting a local faction linked to the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), which Islamabad claims is responsible for recent attacks on Pakistani soil. However, Afghanistan's government denies harboring such groups on its territory.

The breakdown of the ceasefire comes after weeks of heightened tensions between the two countries. The situation had improved somewhat since last weekend, when the Afghan capital was rocked by explosions and the Taliban launched an offensive along parts of its southern border with Pakistan.

As a result of the latest violence, a high-level delegation from Afghanistan will meet Pakistani officials in Doha on Saturday to discuss the crisis. Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob will lead the Afghan team, which also includes representatives from various government ministries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's state TV reported that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik would be heading to Doha for talks with the Afghan Taliban. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has also cancelled its participation in a Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan, citing concerns over security.

The situation on the ground is complex, with many Afghans describing mixed feelings about the latest violence. While some have expressed fear and anxiety about the ongoing conflict, others appear to be cautiously optimistic that the violence will eventually subside.

As the crisis deepens, both sides are likely to face increasing international pressure to resolve their differences through dialogue. The United Nations has called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to work towards a peaceful resolution, which is essential for restoring stability and security in the region.

this whole situation is just so complicated - pakistan's got some good reasons for launching those airstrikes but they're definitely not helping with the peace talks meanwhile afghanistan's all like "you're violating our ceasefire" and then there are these international leaders just trying to keep everyone calm it's like, can't we just have one peaceful day in this region & i do feel bad for the 400+ civilians caught in the middle of all this

this is so worrying... 10 civvies killed already & more wounded... it's like they're playing with fire, no one knows when it'll stop... pakistan saying they were targeting ttp linked ppl but afghan gov denying it... international pressure will come in i'm sure but what about the people caught in the middle? we gotta think about the kids, families, & communities who are suffering here... let's all be praying for peace to prevail

this whole thing is so messed up pakistan's actions are basically justifying the war crimes they've been accused of committing, and it's like they think they can just use civilians as human shields to get what they want meanwhile afghanistan's trying to maintain a fragile peace, and now this latest airstrike has blown that whole thing wide open i'm not buying pakistan's story about targeting a specific faction, sounds like they're just making it up as they go along and the fact that afghanistan's government is being accused of harboring extremist groups is basically just a smokescreen to deflect attention from their own poor decision-making the situation on the ground is indeed complex, but at the end of the day, someone needs to take responsibility for the bloodshed

.. what's going on with these countries?! It feels like we're right back where we were with the Taliban situation all those years ago... remember when that drama was popping off? Anyway, it's just so sad to see civilians getting hurt on both sides. I mean, can't they just talk things out like everyone else? Pakistan saying one thing and Afghanistan saying another... it's like a never-ending soap opera! And what's with the UN stepping in now? Shouldn't they've been doing this sooner? Still, I guess it's better that something's being done to try and resolve the situation. Fingers crossed for Doha talks and all that jazz... let's just hope these countries don't go down the same path as before!

This whole situation with Pakistan and Afghanistan is super concerning . I feel so bad for the civilians who got caught in the middle of this violence . It's like, can't we all just get along? The UN is right on point saying that this kind of cross-border violence has to stop ASAP .

I don't think it's fair to blame one side or the other completely though . I mean, both countries have their own reasons and concerns for the latest escalation. But at the same time, there needs to be some accountability taken for the harm that's been caused .

The fact that a delegation is heading to Doha to discuss this is a good start , but we need to see some real action happening soon . The international community needs to keep applying pressure until both sides agree to work towards a peaceful resolution .

this whole situation is so complicated... i mean pakistan says they're targeting a specific faction, but afghanistan's not buying it . and on the other hand, the ceasefire was supposed to bring some stability to the region, but now we've got civilians getting killed and wounded left and right . i'm not sure what's going on here, but the fact that international leaders are stepping in is a good thing . we need someone to talk sense into these two countries before things get out of hand . also, can't they just focus on their own issues instead of constantly taking sides and escalating tensions? it's like they're playing this game of "who can be the most aggressive" , but at what cost?

The situation in Afghanistan is super tense right now . I feel so bad for those civilians caught in the crossfire – it's just heartbreaking to think about all the innocent lives lost or hurt .

From what I'm reading, Pakistan claims they were targeting a specific faction, but if that's true, then why did other locations get hit too? It's like, can't we find a way to talk this out instead of resorting to violence?

I know both countries have been through a lot, and tensions have been high for a while now. But at the end of the day, all that violence is just going to lead to more suffering . I hope those talks in Doha can bring some peace and stability back to the region – it's the only way forward .

It's also worrying to see how international leaders are stepping in to try and broker a deal. We've seen what happens when world powers get involved – sometimes it can be a game-changer, but other times... not so much . Let's just hope this time it works out for everyone .

I'm curious to see how the Afghan Cricket Board's decision to pull out affects the situation – does that mean they're more willing to talk? Or are they just trying to avoid getting caught up in all the drama? Only time will tell, I guess .

I'm not surprised by this latest escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It feels like we're just going back to square one. The ceasefire was supposed to bring some much-needed calm to the region, but it seems that wasn't enough.

It's also weird that Pakistan is claiming to be targeting a specific faction linked to the Pakistan Taliban when they could've easily said it was just a random attack and left it at that. They're trying to save face here.

The UN's warning about 400 people killed and over 400 wounded in cross-border violence since last Saturday is pretty chilling. It's clear that both sides are playing a high-stakes game, but what's the real cost of this conflict?

I'm also not convinced by Pakistan's claims that they're just trying to deal with internal security threats. Have they considered that their actions might be fueling more instability in Afghanistan instead of quelling it?