A blast occurred in the Afghanistan capital Kabul at around 15:00 local time Wednesday, sending thick smoke billowing from the scene before a temporary ceasefire with neighboring Pakistan went into effect later.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid termed the blast as oil tanker explosion, urging Kabul residents not to worry about it.
"An oil tanker exploded in the vicinity of Kabul city, causing a fire, and there is no need to worry," Mujahid said on social media, without providing further details.
A correspondent with China Media Group (CMG), who was a few kilometers from the site of the explosion, said a second explosion occurred just minutes later at the same location.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that at the request of the Afghan side, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on a temporary 48-hour ceasefire that would come into effect at 18:00 local time (13:00 GMT) to ease border tensions.
"During this period, both sides will make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue," it said in a statement.
On the same day, Mujahid said on social media that at the request and insistence of the Pakistani side, a ceasefire between the two countries would take effect Wednesday. The Afghan government has instructed all its forces to observe the ceasefire as long as the other side does not launch any attacks.
The truce came after days of cross-border exchanges of fire between the two South Asian countries had killed dozens of people and wounded over 100 others.
Explosion rocks Kabul before ceasefire takes effect
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in Jerusalem on Sunday that Israel will soon advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, while Hamas said it is ready to lay down its arms as part of its ceasefire with Israel. At a press conference after meeting visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement has been largely completed. Israel will ensure the return of the last hostage's remains and is set to move forward to the second phase.
Netanyahu noted that later this month, he plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the progress of the second phase. He reiterated Israel's stance that it will not agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Merz said Germany supports Israel's right to exist and its security. He called for the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and stated that Hamas cannot have a role in Gaza's postwar governance. However, Merz also indicated Germany's open attitude towards the establishment of a Palestinian state while opposing any annexation of the West Bank by Israel.
Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' decision-making political bureau, said on the same day that Hamas is very open minded to negotiations regarding its weapons, and Hamas is ready to discuss "freezing or storing" its arsenal of weapons as part of its ceasefire with Israel.
Naim said Hamas retains its "right to resist", but stressed that the group is ready to lay down its arms "with the Palestinian guarantees", and not to use them at all during the ceasefire time as part of a process aimed at leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. He also suggested a long-term truce of five or 10 years for negotiations.
Naim also criticized Israel for not fulfilling its commitments, particularly concerning the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the promised reopening of the Rafah Crossing. He called on the United States, the UN Security Council, mediators, and other relevant parties to exert pressure on Israel to meet its obligations.
Israel to advance 2nd phase of Gaza ceasefire negotiations, Hamas open to peace talks
