A fragile ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapsed on Friday after the Taliban accused Islamabad of fresh airstrikes inside Afghan territory, killing at least ten people,&nbsp; including three local cricketers. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that players Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who had returned from a friendly match in Sharana, died when Pakistani jets allegedly bombed Paktika&rsquo;s Urgun district. &ldquo;Three players were martyred, and seven others injured,&rdquo; the ACB said, announcing its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I series involving Pakistan.
The alleged strikes came hours after both sides agreed to extend a 48-hour truce until the end of ongoing peace talks in Doha. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces had been instructed to maintain the ceasefire &ldquo;as long as Pakistan refrained from any attack.&rdquo; However, local officials in Paktika reported new bombings in Barmal and Urgun districts soon after the announcement. &ldquo;Within hours of the truce extension, Pakistan conducted airstrikes,&rdquo; a provincial police spokesman said.
Tensions flared after a suicide bombing near the Afghan border killed seven Pakistani soldiers earlier this week. Islamabad blamed militant groups based in Afghanistan, claiming six attackers were neutralized in the counter-assault. In retaliation, cross-border strikes intensified, with each side accusing the other of violating sovereignty. Border crossings were shut, and both countries reported heavy casualties in the exchanges.
The fragile calm that followed Qatar and Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s mediation now appears to have unraveled. As Kabul mourns the slain cricketers, Pakistan insists its operations targeted militant hideouts, not civilians. With the Doha talks overshadowed by bloodshed, regional observers warn the violence could derail fragile peace efforts.

Truce Crumbles: 3 Afghan Cricketers Killed

Afghanistan blames Pakistan for deadly airstrikes hours after fragile truce extension

Truce Crumbles: 3 Afghan Cricketers Killed

Afghanistan blames Pakistan for deadly airstrikes hours after fragile truce extension

October 18, 2025 | 14:36 IST