Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, October 16, that Islamabad is ready to hold talks with Afghanistan to resolve their ongoing conflict, as a temporary ceasefire largely held after days of intense fighting between the two former allies. The South Asian neighbors had clashed on the ground, and Pakistan conducted airstrikes along the disputed border, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, before agreeing to a 48-hour truce starting at 1300 GMT on Wednesday. Sharif told his cabinet that Pakistan had “retaliated” after losing patience with Afghanistan following a series of militant attacks.

Sharif emphasized that Pakistan is open to dialogue on its terms and that the ball is now in Kabul’s court, warning that if the ceasefire is merely a tactic to buy time, Pakistan will not accept it. Kabul did not immediately respond, though Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi said the ceasefire was holding so far. The Afghan Taliban’s Interior Ministry added that Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani met senior Iranian officials, expressing Afghanistan’s desire for good relations with all countries, especially its neighbors, and stressing that just as they respect others’ sovereignty and dignity, they expect the same in return.

The latest clashes mark the worst fighting between the two countries in decades. Tensions escalated after Pakistan demanded that Afghanistan curb militants who have increased attacks in Pakistani territory, claiming they operate from Afghan havens. The Taliban denies these allegations and accuses Pakistan of spreading misinformation, provoking border tensions, and harboring ISIS-linked militants to undermine Afghanistan’s stability. Pakistan rejects these claims. Since October 10, at least 18 Afghan civilians have been killed and over 360 wounded, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Pakistan reported killing 34 militants in three operations during the same period.

In Kabul’s Taimani neighborhood, residents are still recovering from an airstrike that occurred hours before the ceasefire took effect. Bashir Ahmad, a doctor at EMERGENCY’s Surgical Centre, said 34 people were brought in with serious injuries, including fractures and burns. Abdul Kabir, who works in the area, recalled the terrifyingly loud explosion, describing how everything suddenly went dark and how a nearby building was completely destroyed. Taimani, a mixed residential and commercial area with high-rise buildings about 20 minutes from central Kabul, saw another victim, Mawludin, trapped under glass and rescued by friends. He described the scene outside as dark and dusty, with people of all ages badly injured.