Less than two hours into the fighting, the Afghan Ministry of Defence announced the conclusion of its “retaliatory operations” against Pakistan, effectively declaring a unilateral ceasefire and halting all border attacks. A senior Afghan official stated, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will cease retaliatory attacks against Pakistan.”
The operations were said to have ended around midnight local time, with the Taliban emphasizing respect for Afghan sovereignty as a red line.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, fueled by Islamabad’s accusations that Kabul harbors TTP militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, including recent deadly strikes that killed over 20 security personnel.
Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue but urged Afghanistan to act against cross-border terrorism. No immediate official response from Pakistan to the ceasefire declaration was reported as of October 12, 2025.
