In a tense turn of events, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire after a violent clash along their shared border left dozens dead and many more injured. The ceasefire, which came into effect at 6 pm PKT or 6:30 pm IST, marks a temporary halt to the deadly conflict. However, the situation remains volatile, with both sides making sincere efforts through dialogue to find a positive solution to the complex issue. Pakistan claims that Afghanistan requested the ceasefire, while Afghanistan has yet to comment on the request or Pakistan's claim. The deadly violence between the neighbors is the deadliest in recent years, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of supporting gunmen who carry out terrorist attacks on its territory. Afghanistan, however, denies these allegations, insisting that the Taliban will not allow their land to be used to stage attacks on other countries. The clashes, which were the second this week, have stoked fears of a wider conflict in the region, where terrorist groups like the Islamic State and outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba that target India are trying to establish a foothold and resurface. The fighting stopped briefly on Sunday after appeals from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The latest flare-up coincided with Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi's visit to India, which Islamabad views as Delhi trying to reset ties with Kabul. India has also restored full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to an Embassy. Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harboring terrorists, which Kabul denies. The situation remains fluid, and the world watches with bated breath as both sides navigate the delicate path towards peace.
