Pakistan-Afghanistan 48 Hour Ceasefire set to Expire Today

The precarious 48 hour ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan officially expired this evening, Friday, October 17, 2025, with no immediate public confirmation of an extension from either side. The temporary truce, which had brought a brief respite from days of deadly cross border clashes, was nearing its end amidst high tension and an ongoing diplomatic stalemate.

The cessation of hostilities, which began on Wednesday evening, followed a severe escalation in violence along the rugged border, resulting in dozens of military and civilian casualties on both sides.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had stated on Thursday that the ball was "in the court" of the Afghan Taliban government for the truce to endure. The Prime Minister, according to official statements, stressed that an extension depended on Kabul's willingness to "resolve the issues and address our genuine demands" within the 48 hour window. This primarily refers to Islamabad's repeated demand that the Afghan territory not be used to launch attacks by militant groups, a charge the Afghan administration routinely denies.

Earlier this week, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced the 48 hour temporary ceasefire, saying it was agreed upon "at the request of the Afghan side" and with mutual consent. The Ministry's statement noted that both countries would use the period to "make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to this complex but resolvable issue through constructive dialogue."

Contradicting this, the chief spokesman for the Afghan Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, had stated on social media that the truce was at the "insistence" of the Pakistani side, though he did not mention a 48 hour limit, instructing Afghan forces to observe the ceasefire as long as Pakistan did not violate it.

As of late Friday evening, no formal statement confirming the resumption of fighting had been issued. However, the temporary diplomatic pause concludes as fundamental disagreements over border security remain unresolved, leaving the fate of the fragile calm uncertain and heightening fears of renewed confrontation.

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