Pakistan to pause strikes on Afghanistan ahead of Eid

Pakistan announced a pause on cross-border strikes against Afghanistan ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr. The decision was made at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The announcement was on March 18, 2026, the same day Afghanistan held a mass funeral for victims of an alleged Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The strike was the deadliest incident in the escalating conflict between the neighbouring countries. Pakistan has rejected accusations that it targeted the hospital, insisting its strikes were aimed at military facilities.