Islamabad/Kabul: Pakistan launched fresh strikes on Afghanistan late Friday, breaking a 48-hour ceasefire that had briefly halted nearly a week of deadly border clashes, a senior Taliban official told news agency AFP .

“Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika province. Afghanistan will retaliate,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The ceasefire, which began at 1300 GMT on Wednesday, was initially meant to last 48 hours. While Pakistan said that the truce would last 48 hours, Kabul maintained that it would remain in effect “until Pakistan violated it.”

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid earlier said Afghan forces had been ordered not to attack unless provoked. He added, “If they do, then you have every right to defend y

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