At least 40 civilians were killed and more than 170 others injured in fierce border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Wednesday, before both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire, local health authorities in Afghanistan’s southern Spin Boldak province told Agence France-Presse on Thursday.

“All of the victims are civilians,” said Karimullah Zubair Agha, head of the provincial health department, adding that hospitals are operating at full capacity to treat the wounded.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that both Islamabad and Kabul agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire starting at 13:00 GMT on Wednesday, following days of deadly cross-border exchanges.