Dozens killed as Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes escalate ahead of temporary ceasefire

Kabul/ Islamabad: Dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed as fresh clashes erupted along the Pakistan Afghanistan border on Wednesday, accor...

Kabul/ Islamabad: Dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed as fresh clashes erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Wednesday, according to officials from both sides.

The violence comes just hours before Islamabad announced that the two neighbours had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming the temporary truce, following a week of heightened tensions and cross-border hostilities triggered by a series of deadly explosions in Afghanistan, including two blasts in the capital, Kabul.

Afghan authorities have accused Pakistan of involvement in those attacks - a charge Islamabad denies.

On Saturday, Afghan forces launched strikes across sections of the southern border, prompting a vow of retaliation from Pakistan.