3 Afghan cricketers among 10 killed in fresh Pakistani strikes as truce fails: Latest updates

By Admin

18 Oct, 2025

In a tragic escalation of hostilities, at least 10 people   including three local Afghan cricketers   were killed in fresh Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, shattering the fragile truce between the two neighboring countries. The incident comes just hours after Afghanistan and Pakistan had extended a short-term ceasefire pending peace talks in Doha.

Afghan Cricketers Killed in Airstrikes

According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the deceased cricketers   Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon   were from Urgun District in Paktika Province. The players had recently returned home after participating in a friendly match in Sharana when their area was bombed.
“In this heartbreaking incident, three players alongside five other fellow countrymen from Urgun District were martyred, and seven others were injured,” the ACB said in a statement. Taliban officials confirmed that the strikes targeted three locations in Paktika, causing significant civilian casualties.
Reuters, citing ACB spokesman Sayed Naseem Sadaat, reported that as many as eight local cricketers might have been killed in the incident.

ACB Withdraws from Tri-Nation T20I Series

In the wake of the tragedy, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I series involving Pakistan.
Expressing grief over the loss, the ACB stated, “The incident has deeply affected the cricketing fraternity and the nation at large. The players were innocent civilians who loved the game and represented the spirit of Afghan youth.”

Truce Extension and Doha Talks

The airstrikes occurred even as both nations agreed to extend their 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of the Doha peace talks. According to reports, a Pakistani delegation had already arrived in Doha, with the Afghan side expected to join on Saturday. The ceasefire extension came shortly after a suicide attack near the Afghan border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office confirmed that militants had rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security facility in North Waziristan, killing six militants in the counterfire.

Following the attack, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Ariana News that Kabul had ordered its forces to maintain the truce as long as Pakistan refrained from any attacks. However, within hours, Pakistani jets reportedly struck Barmal and Urgun districts, leading to the deaths of the cricketers and several civilians.

Border Tensions Escalate

This latest incident follows a series of violent escalations along the Pak-Afghan border. Last weekend, both sides launched retaliatory airstrikes   Afghanistan claimed it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, while Pakistan reported 23 of its troops killed but claimed to have eliminated over 200 Taliban fighters.
The border crossings were temporarily shut on October 12 amid rising tensions. While Qatar and Saudi Arabia intervened to halt the fighting, sporadic clashes continued throughout the week, resulting in dozens of civilian and military casualties.

A Fragile Peace Under Strain

Despite attempts at negotiation, the situation remains volatile. Reuters quoted a Pakistani security official clarifying that the ceasefire was made with the Afghan Taliban, not with Islamist militants hiding in Afghanistan who continue to attack Pakistan.
With both sides blaming each other for repeated violations, the Doha talks represent a critical opportunity to prevent a deeper conflict. Yet, the killing of young Afghan athletes underscores how quickly violence can undermine peace efforts   and how civilians continue to pay the highest price.