Intense Pakistan‑Afghanistan Border Clashes Displace Over 115,000; UN and Muslim Scholars Call for Ceasefire

Intense Pakistan‑Afghanistan Border Clashes Displace Over 115,000; UN and Muslim Scholars Call for Ceasefire
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Severe clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces along their shared border have displaced more than 115,000 civilians, with thousands more affected in nearby Pakistani districts, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. Civilians are reportedly exposed to air strikes, artillery fire, and gun battles, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, including women and children, amid restricted humanitarian access.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has urged an immediate halt to hostilities and warned that ongoing violence is preventing critical aid from reaching displaced populations. Both sides claim to have inflicted significant military casualties, but independent verification is limited due to the conflict’s intensity.

Amid the crisis, Ali Mohiuddin al‑Qaradaghi, leader of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, issued a religious ruling calling for an immediate ceasefire during the final ten days of Ramadan and through Eid al‑Fitr. Qaradaghi urged both sides to resume negotiations afterward with mediation from Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Islam condemns intra‑Muslim violence.

The scholars’ union is ready to send delegations to support mediation, aiming to halt the escalating violence and facilitate dialogue for a sustainable resolution.