KABUL, ⁠Feb 17 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Tuesday ⁠it had released three Pakistani soldiers captured during ‌border clashes in October, in a move mediated by Saudi Arabia amid strained ties and a prolonged frontier closure between the two neighbours. The release ​comes months after the worst cross-border ⁠fighting since the Taliban ⁠returned to power in 2021. Dozens were killed in October ⁠clashes, ‌after which both sides agreed to a fragile ceasefire but failed to secure a longer-term political ⁠understanding. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement ​the soldiers, detained ‌on October 12 during fighting along the border, were ⁠handed over ​to a Saudi delegation in Kabul. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's ​Taliban rulers of harbouring militants who ‌stage attacks inside Pakistan, a ​charge Kabul denies.

Source: The Star February 18, 2026 02:11 UTC