Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire set to begin Wednesday evening, following days of intense cross-border fighting that left hundreds of soldiers and civilians dead or wounded, according to conflicting reports from both nations.

The ceasefire, which Pakistan's foreign ministry said was initiated at Afghanistan's request, is scheduled to commence at 6:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on October 15, 2025. The agreement aims to de-escalate a rapidly worsening conflict and create an opportunity for dialogue toward a peaceful resolution, though specific details of the truce remain unclear.

The recent violence represents a severe escalation in the long-simmering tensions between the neighboring countries. Heavy artillery and airstrikes were exchanged across several border regions, most notably in the Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Both sides have accused the other of initiating the aggression and violating territorial integrity. Pakistan stated its operations targeted militant hideouts belonging to groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), denying it caused civilian harm. Conversely, Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of unprovoked attacks on its territory.

The casualty figures presented by both governments are starkly different and could not be independently verified. Afghan officials claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight operations. Meanwhile, Pakistan reported that it had killed over 200 Taliban militants and affiliated terrorists, while acknowledging the loss of 23 of its own troops.

The conflict has taken a significant toll on civilians. According to reports from Afghanistan, at least 15 civilians, including women and children, were killed and numerous others were wounded in the fighting. One report following a Pakistani airstrike in Spin Boldak cited Afghan sources claiming twelve civilians were killed and over 100 injured.

The clashes have crippled life in the region, forcing the closure of key border crossings at Torkham and Chaman and halting vital trade and civilian movement. Fearing continued shelling, residents in border towns like Chaman have reportedly begun evacuating to safer areas.

The escalating violence has drawn international concern, with nations including Russia calling on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further destabilization in a region where militant groups like ISIS and al-Qaida could exploit the chaos. As the fragile ceasefire takes hold, the situation remains tense, with both Islamabad and Kabul engaging in a war of words to control the narrative of the conflict.