Ceasefire Breaks as Pakistani Airstrikes Kill 10 in Afghanistan – Three Afghan Cricketers Among Victims

Kabul/Islamabad: The fragile peace along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border has collapsed once again after Pakistan reportedly carried out fresh airstrikes inside Afghanistan, killing at least ten people, including three local Cricket players. The Afghan government accused Islamabad of violating the Ceasefire just hours after both sides had agreed to extend it until the end of the Doha peace negotiations.

According to local reports, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that three young cricketers from Paktika Province’s Urgun District were among those killed. The players had returned from Sharana after participating in a friendly match when the airstrike hit their gathering.

Taliban officials claimed that Pakistan targeted three sites in the Paktika region, killing at least ten people and injuring several others in the new wave of bombings. The attacks have once again raised fears of full-scale confrontation between the two nations.

Afghanistan Withdraws from Tri-Nation T20I Series

In response to the deadly incident, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I series against Pakistan, citing deep sorrow and outrage over the loss of its players. The ACB described the incident as “an inhumane and cowardly act.”

“Three players — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — along with five other residents of Urgun District were martyred in this tragic event, while seven others sustained injuries,” the ACB said in an official statement. “The players had traveled to Sharana, the provincial capital, to play a friendly match. Upon returning home, they were attacked during a local gathering.”

However, ACB spokesperson Sayed Naseem Sadaat told Reuters that as many as eight local cricketers were killed in the strike, indicating the actual toll could be higher.

Doha Talks Continue Amid Renewed Violence

Despite the escalating violence, both nations agreed to extend their 48-hour ceasefire until the completion of the Doha peace negotiations. An Afghan delegation was expected to arrive in Doha on Saturday, while a Pakistani mission was already present in the Qatari capital for the talks, according to Reuters.

The ceasefire extension came hours after a suicide bombing near the Afghan border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others. According to Pakistan’s military, two militants attempted to storm a facility in North Waziristan, while another jihadist detonated a car bomb near the border wall. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office confirmed that six extremists were killed in the counter-attack.

Later that evening, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Ariana News that Kabul had ordered its forces to maintain the ceasefire “as long as Pakistan refrains from aggression.”

However, within hours of that statement, Afghan police spokesperson Mohammad Ismail Mawia reported that Pakistan carried out new strikes in the Barmal and Urgun districts, killing several civilians, including the cricketers. Afghanistan’s Tolo News reported that the strikes hit residential zones, leading to significant civilian casualties.

Unstable Peace: Ceasefire Repeatedly Violated

According to Pakistani security officials, the truce was brokered with the Afghan Taliban but not with Islamist militants hiding inside Afghanistan who have been launching cross-border attacks into Pakistan. The confusion over ceasefire terms appears to have worsened the situation.

The border conflict, which erupted last week, has led to heavy casualties on both sides. Pakistan reported 23 soldiers killed in Afghan strikes, while Kabul claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in its retaliatory attacks. Islamabad also asserted that its counterfire had killed more than 200 Taliban fighters.

Border Conflict Escalates Despite Diplomatic Efforts

The latest escalation follows days of cross-border airstrikes and retaliatory attacks that have left dozens dead. The Afghan government has accused Pakistan of targeting civilian zones, while Islamabad insists it is only responding to attacks launched by militant groups from Afghan soil.

Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have stepped in to mediate and prevent further deterioration. However, sporadic violence continues to erupt, with local sources reporting renewed hostilities as recently as Tuesday evening, leading to additional civilian and military casualties.

Though both sides continue to claim that the other initiated the attacks, they have agreed-at least formally-to maintain restraint until the conclusion of the Doha dialogue. Whether this temporary peace holds remains uncertain, as tensions persist along one of the world’s most volatile borders.