Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) introduced a halt in preventing throughout celebrations for the tip of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike of their escalating battle killed tons of in Kabul earlier this week.
The governments in Islamabad and Kabul mentioned in separate statements that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye had requested a pause in preventing over Eid al-Fitr and each agreed.
Cross-border assaults have intensified since final month and Pakistan accuses the Taliban authorities of protecting extremists behind assaults on its territory. Afghanistan denies doing so.
On Monday night time (March 16), Pakistani jets struck a drug rehabilitation centre within the Afghan capital, prompting contemporary requires a direct finish to assaults and talks to finish the bloodshed.
Pakistan’s Info Minister, Attaullah Tarar, mentioned the federal government agreed to a halt to its operations from Thursday (March 19) to Monday (March 23) “in good religion and consistent with the Islamic norms”.
Taliban Authorities spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid mentioned defending Afghanistan was “a nationwide and spiritual obligation” and they’d reply to any aggression or risk.
Mr. Tarar mentioned, “In case of any cross-border assault, drone assault or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, (operations) shall instantly resume with renewed depth.”
Mass funeral
The Taliban authorities have mentioned that round 400 folks have been killed and greater than 200 wounded in Monday’s (March 16) strike and a mass funeral was held for a number of the victims on Wednesday (March 18).
Afghan Purple Crescent Society volunteers carried dozens of easy picket coffins from a fleet of ambulances to a mass grave in Kabul, dug within the rocky floor of a rainswept hillside by big excavators.
On the graveside, Inside Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani mentioned they have been harmless victims focused by “criminals”, days earlier than the tip of the Muslim holy month.
“We’ll take revenge,” he added and warned these behind Monday night time’s (March 16) bombing, “We’re not weak and helpless. You will note the implications of your crimes.”
However Mr. Haqqani, who till final 12 months had a $10-million U.S. bounty on his head, additionally instructed that talks have been the federal government’s most popular choice to halt the preventing.
“We are not looking for warfare however the scenario has come to this,” he mentioned. “So, we are attempting to unravel the issues by diplomacy,” he added.
Inside Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani mentioned the ceremony was for recognized victims. Some had been despatched again to their dwelling provinces for burial.
Identification of different victims was nonetheless ongoing, he added.
Well being Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman informed AFP that fifty coffins had been delivered to the Kabul web site on Wednesday (March 18).
Identification
Acquiring rapid impartial affirmation of tangible demise tolls is troublesome in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with assaults usually in hard-to-reach locations and with conflicting info.
AFP journalists on the scene on Monday night (March 16) and Tuesday morning (March 17) noticed no less than 95 our bodies extracted from the rubble on the devastated centre.
Jacopo Caridi, the Afghanistan nation director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian NGO, mentioned additionally they had groups on the bottom.
“From what we noticed and what we mentioned with the others concerned within the (emergency) response, we are able to say that there have been tons of of killed and wounded,” he informed AFP.
Restoration of our bodies has confirmed troublesome due to the particles and collapsed constructions, and Mr. Caridi described the scene as “stunning”, which might make identification tougher.
“I noticed a finger in a single place, a foot in one other place, a hand in a single location. It was actually horrific,” mentioned Mr. Caridi.
Mediation stalled
Afghanistan and Pakistan have confronted requires a direct finish to the battle, with the general civilian demise toll mounting and concern about these displaced.
The UN mentioned earlier than Monday’s (March 16) strike that no less than 76 Afghan civilians had been killed within the preventing since February 26, and that greater than 115,000 folks had been pressured from their properties.
Mediation efforts, nevertheless, have to date proved fruitless.
The main target of Gulf nations, which led early mediation makes an attempt, has shifted to the scenario in their very own yard for the reason that begin of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran final month.
China has despatched a particular envoy to mediate and pledged to play a “constructive function in de-escalating tensions”.
Russia’s particular consultant for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, mentioned Moscow “can be prepared” to assist dealer talks if each side request it.
“To this point, this has not occurred,” he informed pro-Kremlin outlet Izvestia.
Revealed – March 18, 2026 11:15 pm IST