India, Oct. 16 -- Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated for the second time in a week on Wednesday after overnight border clashes reportedly led to the deaths of dozens of civilians as well as troops, an intense fight that later came to a halt with both agreeing to a 48-hour ceasefire but attributing the same to the "insistence" of the other side.

Neighbours Pakistan and Afghanistan have not been the best of friends since the return of the hardline Taliban regime in the latter after the US troops exited in 2021.

main point of contention between the two is Pakistan's accusation on Afghanistan of being a safe haven for militants - of an outfit called Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in particular - who it says plan Pakistani...