UN urges Pakistan, Afghanistan to finish hostilities to guard civilians

The United Nations on Thursday (October 16, 2025) urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to carry “an enduring finish to hostilities” to guard civilians, after days of combating killed dozens of individuals in each international locations and injured a whole lot extra.

It’s the deadliest disaster between the neighbours since 2021, when the Taliban seized energy in Afghanistan following the collapse of the Western-backed authorities.

Cross-border violence has escalated since October 10, with every nation saying they had been retaliating to armed provocations from the opposite. On Wednesday (October 15), the 2 sides agreed to a ceasefire.

The truce adopted appeals from main regional powers, because the violence threatened to destabilise a area the place teams, together with the Islamic State and al-Qaida, are attempting to resurface. There had been no studies of in a single day combating. Key border crossings remained closed on Thursday (October 16).

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan welcomed the ceasefire and mentioned it was nonetheless assessing the variety of casualties. It mentioned the heaviest toll was within the south on Wednesday.

“Current data signifies that at the least 17 civilians had been killed and 346 had been injured in Spin Boldak on the Afghan aspect of the border,” the UN mission mentioned.

It mentioned it had additionally documented at the least 16 civilian casualties in a number of Afghan provinces throughout earlier clashes between the 2 international locations.

“UNAMA calls on all events to carry an enduring finish to hostilities to guard civilians and forestall additional lack of life,” the mission added.

Pakistan has not offered figures for civilian casualties suffered on its aspect of the border. It has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants, a cost rejected by the Taliban. Pakistan is grappling with assaults which have elevated since 2021.

India’s response on tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan

On tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We are carefully monitoring the state of affairs. Pakistan hosts terrorist organizations and sponsors terrorist actions. It is an outdated behavior of Pakistan to place blame on neighbours. Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its personal territories. India stays totally dedicated to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan”.

Afghanistan and Pakistan share a 2,611-km lengthy border often known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has by no means recognised.