Pakistan and Afghanistan announce Eid 'pause' in hostilitiesHundreds were killed in Monday night's strike on a drug rehab centre in KabulISLAMABAD (PAKISTAN) - Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a halt in fighting during celebrations for the end of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike in their escalating conflict killed hundreds in Kabul earlier this week. Cross-border attacks have intensified since last month and Pakistan accuses the Taliban authorities of shielding extremists behind the violence on its territory. - Identification -Obtaining immediate independent confirmation of exact death tolls is difficult in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with attacks often in hard-to-reach places and with conflicting information. - Mediation stalled -Afghanistan and Pakistan have faced calls for an immediate end to the conflict, with the civilian death toll mounting and concern about those displaced. Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Moscow "will be ready" to help broker talks if both sides request it.

Source: Bangkok Post March 18, 2026 21:39 UTC