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Afghanistan, Pakistan Elders to Meet in Peshawar for Peace Talks

March 29, 2026
Khaama Press

Pakistani media say a joint Afghanistan-Pakistan meeting will be held in Peshawar to promote dialogue, a ceasefire and de-escalation between the two sides.

A joint peace assembly involving participants from Afghanistan and Pakistan is expected to be held on Tuesday, March 31, in Peshawar, according to Pakistani media reports, as efforts continue to calm worsening bilateral tensions.

According to the reports, the gathering will bring together political leaders, tribal elders, religious scholars, civil society activists, business figures and media representatives, with organizers describing the meeting as an urgent attempt to reopen channels of communication.

The main purpose of the gathering is to create space for dialogue, de-escalation and peacebuilding between Kabul and Islamabad, with participants expected to call on both sides to implement an immediate ceasefire and resolve disputes through diplomacy.

The planned meeting comes at a highly tense moment in bilateral relations, after renewed fighting and military operations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border undermined hopes for a more durable truce following a brief Eid pause.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have said military operations against Afghanistan will continue unless the Taliban government stops what Islamabad describes as support for militant infrastructure used in attacks inside Pakistan. At a weekly briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the pause in fighting had ended and that operations would continue until Pakistan’s objectives were achieved.

According to Reuters, Pakistan says the Taliban administration must “review” what it called its misplaced priority of supporting terrorist infrastructure, while Islamabad continues to accuse Kabul of giving safe haven to militants such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban has repeatedly denied those allegations and says militancy inside Pakistan is an internal issue.

Pakistani broadcaster Geo News reported that the meeting aims to establish a shared path toward peace and stability, with organizers arguing that such an initiative is urgently needed as mistrust and violence continue to deepen.

The broader crisis has drawn regional concern, with China recently urging Afghanistan and Pakistan to settle their differences through face-to-face talks, restraint and an immediate ceasefire rather than force.

At the same time, Pakistan is trying to manage several diplomatic crises at once, including its tensions with Afghanistan and its parallel role in regional diplomacy linked to the Iran war, where Islamabad has also sought to position itself as a mediator.

If the Peshawar meeting succeeds in opening even a limited channel for communication, it could offer a rare opportunity to lower tensions and prevent further deterioration in one of the region’s most fragile relationships.

Afghanistan, Pakistan Elders to Meet in Peshawar for Peace Talks
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UK approves resettlement for nearly 1,000 former Afghan special forces

March 28, 2026
Khaama Press

Britain has approved resettlement for nearly 1,000 former Afghan special forces personnel after reviewing previously rejected immigration and protection cases.

Britain has agreed to resettle 884 former Afghan special forces personnel after reviewing previously rejected immigration cases, offering fresh hope to members of elite units who fought alongside British forces before the Taliban returned to power. The move follows a government reassessment of applications from the so-called “Triples” units, including CF 333 and ATF 444.

According to Forces News, the affected applicants were initially turned down under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), but their files were reopened after the government found inconsistencies in earlier decision-making. Those who complete visa and security checks will be allowed to remain in Britain under the resettlement framework.

The British government said the review was launched after concerns that some decisions involving former Afghan partner forces had not been properly documented or consistently assessed. Defence procurement minister Luke Pollard described the delays as “deeply concerning” and said the government remained committed to supporting those who had served with British troops.

The former commandos are believed to have been trained by British special forces and took part in joint operations against the Taliban and other militant groups during the war in Afghanistan. Many have said they have faced severe threats since 2021 because of their links to British military operations.

Britain introduced ARAP in April 2021 to protect Afghans who worked for or alongside the UK government and were considered at serious risk because of that service. The route later became part of the broader Afghan Resettlement Programme, though ARAP itself was closed to new principal applications in July 2025.

The case has become one of the most controversial chapters in Britain’s Afghan resettlement effort, with campaigners and former military officials arguing that many of the “Triples” were unfairly excluded despite their direct operational role. Government documents published in February said roughly 30% of reviewed decisions in the first phase had been overturned.

Officials have also acknowledged that newly examined payment records and service verification evidence may prove some of these former fighters worked closely enough with British forces to qualify under ARAP rules. That finding helped trigger a second phase of review covering additional cases.

The decision to approve hundreds of former Afghan commandos is likely to ease some of the criticism surrounding Britain’s handling of these cases, though thousands of applications remain under scrutiny. For many of those still waiting, the review is not only about paperwork, but about survival.

UK approves resettlement for nearly 1,000 former Afghan special forces
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Pakistan says it will continue military operation against Militants in Afghanistan

March 28, 2026
Khaama Press

Pakistan said on Thursday it would continue its military operation against the Kabul administration after a temporary Eid ceasefire expired.

Pakistan said on Thursday it had resumed its “Ghazaab-ul-Haq” military operation against what it called militant hideouts in Afghanistan after a temporary Eid al-Fitr ceasefire expired, dimming hopes for a longer truce between the two neighbors. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said the pause had ended and operations had restarted in a “targeted” manner.

Islamabad says the operation, launched on the night of Feb. 25, is aimed at infrastructure and sanctuaries used by militants behind attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP. Pakistani officials have accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing militants to operate from Afghanistan soil, a charge Kabul has repeatedly denied.

The Taliban accused Pakistan during Eid of violating the ceasefire, while Pakistani officials said their forces were acting in response to cross-border attacks and what they called provocations from Afghanistan territory. The latest resumption of hostilities follows weeks of the worst fighting between the two sides in years.

The truce had been brokered with mediation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, all of which pushed for de-escalation after a sharp military escalation in late February and March. Pakistan has said the pause was also requested by the mediating states, though neither side has signaled a durable political breakthrough.

Religious scholars and clerics in the region have also urged both sides to halt the fighting at least until Eid al-Adha, warning that continued conflict would deepen civilian suffering and further destabilize the border region. But with mutual accusations and little trust between Islamabad and Kabul, those appeals have so far struggled to gain traction.

The current crisis marks a dramatic deterioration in ties between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, once close allies. Pakistan has increasingly blamed Kabul for sheltering TTP fighters responsible for a wave of deadly attacks since 2022, while the Taliban says it does not allow Afghanistan territory to be used against any other country.

The violence has also raised humanitarian concerns after major Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan this month, including one in Kabul that Taliban officials said hit a rehabilitation center and caused mass casualties, a claim Islamabad rejected. International actors including the United Nations, European Union and regional states have repeatedly called for restraint and dialogue.

The renewed operation suggests the fragile Eid truce has failed to halt a broader slide toward sustained confrontation. Unless both sides can restore confidence through mediation or direct talks, the conflict risks becoming an entrenched and highly destabilizing front in the region.

Pakistan says it will continue military operation against Militants in Afghanistan
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Torkham Border Crossing Reopen Temporarily, Officials Say

March 27, 2026
Khaama Press

Local officials in Nangarhar have announced that the Torkham border crossing will reopen today exclusively for migrant travel.

Quraishi Badloon, head of Taliban Information and Culture in Nangarhar, wrote on his social media platform on Wednesday evening, March 25, that the crossing will open from 9 a.m. Thursday for the safe and orderly movement of migrants.

The decision aims to ensure secure and regulated transit for Afghans traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to Badloon.

The Torkham crossing had been closed for several days following clashes between Taliban fighters and Pakistani border guards, which disrupted all movement across the frontier.

Torkham is one of the most important border points between Afghanistan and Pakistan, serving as a critical route for both people and goods.

Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions between Pakistan and Taliban forces, with sporadic clashes reported along the border, raising concerns over regional stability.

Analysts say the temporary reopening for migrants may be an effort to ease humanitarian pressures while broader security and political tensions remain unresolved.

Historically, border closures like this have strained trade, disrupted families, and intensified local grievances, highlighting the fragile dynamics in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

The reopening signals a cautious step toward normalizing crossings, though the situation remains volatile, and authorities on both sides continue to monitor security developments closely.

Torkham Border Crossing Reopen Temporarily, Officials Say
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UNICEF Says Every Girl in Afghanistan Has the Right to Go to School

March 27, 2026

A UNICEF representative in Afghanistan has said every girl in the country has the right to go to school, renewing calls for the reopening of classrooms to girls.

Tajudeen Oyewale wrote on X on Thursday, March 26, that when girls are educated, communities grow stronger and the future becomes brighter for everyone.

He said UNICEF’s message is simple but important and aimed at keeping hope alive for girls across Afghanistan.

His remarks follow an earlier appeal by UNICEF South Asia regional director Sanjay Wijesekera, who said the time has come to reopen schools for girls in Afghanistan.

Girls above grade six have remained barred from school since the Taliban returned to power, leaving millions cut off from formal education.

The restrictions have since expanded beyond schools, with girls and women also excluded from universities, institutes and many other educational spaces.

Former President Hamid Karzai and other public figures have repeatedly warned that denying girls education and restricting women’s work will damage Afghanistan’s stability, dignity and future development.

Women also continue to face employment restrictions in many sectors, including public institutions and parts of humanitarian and civil society work, worsening poverty for already vulnerable households.

These bans are unfolding amid a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Afghans facing hunger, unemployment, displacement and dependence on international aid.

UNICEF’s latest call adds to growing international and domestic pressure, but for Afghan girls and women, access to education and work remains largely out of reach.

UNICEF Says Every Girl in Afghanistan Has the Right to Go to School
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Afghans hold second mass funeral for victims of an airstrike on Kabul

March 27, 2026

By Abdul Qahar Afghan | AP

Washington Post

March 26, 2026

KABUL, Afghanistan — Dozens of people were buried in a Kabul cemetery on Thursday in the second mass funeral of victims killed in an airstrike that hit a drug rehabilitation center in the Afghan capital earlier this month.

Bulldozers opened a large pit into which individual graves were dug for the 60 coffins. Afghan officials have said hundreds of people were killed when a Pakistani airstrike hit the 2,000-bed Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital on March 16.

The U.N. humanitarian affairs office has said the total death toll is still under verification. Pakistan has denied targeting civilians, saying it struck an ammunition depot.

The strike came amid escalating fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan that began in February and has seen repeated cross-border clashes as well as airstrikes inside Afghanistan, including several in Kabul.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven for militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, especially for the Pakistani Taliban . The group is separate but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 during the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.

Pakistan declared last month that it is at “open war” with Afghanistan . The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group , still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.

The two sides declared a temporary truce last week ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, following mediation by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. The truce expired this week, and renewed fighting erupted on Wednesday, with Afghan officials saying at least two civilians had been killed in eastern Afghanistan and others had been wounded.

Separately, the Pakistani Taliban — known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP — said they have resumed attacks inside Pakistan after observing their own three-day Eid ceasefire.

Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said on Thursday that the death toll from the strike on the center now stood at 411 people, after two of the wounded died in hospital and one more body was pulled from the rubble in recent days. A further 263 people were wounded, he said.

Zaman said the remains of 20 young men, aged about 18 to 19 years old, were never found. The young men were all in a room in the treatment center that was completely destroyed in the strike. “No sign of them remained,” he said. “We have not yet found any body parts of them to identify.”

The spokesman said many people remain missing. He said hundreds of people were still going to Kabul’s forensic department seeking news of their loved ones who had been in the Omid treatment center, as their relatives are not listed among the confirmed dead or the wounded.

Samira Mohammadi said she has been searching since the explosion for her 20-year-old son Arif, who was a patient at the treatment center. Her visits to several hospitals in the capital have been fruitless.

The Omid hospital had been expanded from a previously existing drug treatment facility as part of the Taliban government’s efforts to stamp out a significant drug addiction problem in Afghanistan. The country’s vast poppy fields have been the source of much of the world’s heroin, which in combination with decades of conflict and widespread poverty has fueled drug addiction that authorities have vowed to combat.

The site, near Kabul’s international airport, is adjacent to a former NATO military base, Camp Phoenix, where U.S. forces used to train the Afghan National Army .

The strike caused an intense fire at the hospital, and officials have said the bodies of many of the victims were too badly damaged to be identified.

Afghans hold second mass funeral for victims of an airstrike on Kabul
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Fighting resumes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after temporary ceasefire ends, killing 2

March 26, 2026

By ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN

Associated Press
March 25, 2026
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Renewed fighting erupted along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Wednesday after a temporary ceasefire expired, killing at least two civilians and wounding others in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan Taliban officials said.

The brief truce had been announced by the two sides ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Ziaur Rahman Speenghar, a director at the information and culture department in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, said Pakistani forces fired dozens of artillery shells into the Narai and Sarkano districts, killing two civilians and wounding eight others after the ceasefire expired.

Afghan border forces returned fire, he said, claiming they destroyed three Pakistani military posts and killed one person. His claims could not be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from Pakistan’s military. However, a local Pakistani official in the northwest accused Afghan forces of initiating the exchange of fire in multiple areas.

The latest violence comes about a week after both sides agreed to halt hostilities following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan at the request of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. The pause followed Pakistani strikes that the Afghan Taliban government said hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, killing more than 400 people. That toll could not be independently confirmed.

Separately, the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, said it had resumed attacks inside Pakistan after observing its own three-day Eid ceasefire.

The TTP, which is separate from but allied to the Afghan Taliban, has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. The TTP has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering TTP leaders and thousands of members who carry out cross-border attacks.

Kabul denies the charge, but Pakistan has vowed to continue targeting TTP and its supporters inside Afghanistan until Afghanistan’s Taliban government assures that it will not allow TTP and other militants to use the Afghan soil for attacks.

___

Associated Press writer Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to the story.

 

Fighting resumes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after temporary ceasefire ends, killing 2
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Pakistan Resumes Attacks On Afghanistan After Eid Pause; 2 Civilians Killed, Several Injured

March 26, 2026

Aveek Banerjee
News18.com

March 26, 2026

The latest attacks came after Pakistan and Afghanistan had announced a “temporary pause” in hostilities amid long-standing tensions between the two neighbours.

Pakistan on Thursday resumed attacks against Afghanistan after a temporary pause, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, dashing hopes of a ceasefire after a brief pause was announced during the festival of Eid al-Fitr. At least two civilians were killed and several others were injured.

Ziaur Rahman Speenghar, a director at the information and culture department in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, said Pakistani forces fired dozens of artillery shells into the Narai and Sarkano districts, killing two civilians and wounding eight others after the ceasefire expired, reported The Associated Press.

He said Afghan border forces returned fire, claiming to have destroyed three Pakistani military posts and killed one person, although these claims have not been independently verified. However, a local Pakistani official in the northwest accused Afghan forces of initiating the exchange of fire in multiple areas.

Last week, Pakistan and Afghanistan had announced a “temporary pause” in hostilities to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a briefing that the pause had concluded between March 23 and 24, adding that Pakistan’s operations would continue until the objectives are achieved, and until the Afghan Taliban regime reviewed what he called its “misplaced priority of supporting terrorist infrastructures”.

The pause followed Pakistani strikes that the Afghan Taliban government said hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, killing more than 400 people. Pakistan rejected the Taliban’s statements about the strike, saying it had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure”.

This airstrike marked a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between the two neighbours, which have seen cross-border shelling, retaliatory air operations, and mutual accusations over militant sanctuaries since the conflict intensified in late 2025.

The Pakistani military has struck Kabul several times in recent weeks, as part of a conflict sparked by claims that the Taliban government has harboured militant groups that have carried out attacks across the border.

Pakistan Resumes Attacks On Afghanistan After Eid Pause; 2 Civilians Killed, Several Injured
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Religious Leaders Call for Extension of Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire Until Eid al-Adha

March 25, 2026
Khaama Press

Religious scholars from Pakistan and Afghanistan have jointly called on authorities in both countries to extend the temporary ceasefire, originally announced for Eid al-Fitr, until Eid al-Adha.

On Tuesday, 24 March, 22 prominent clerics issued a statement emphasizing that their goal is to foster sustainable peace and resolve ongoing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The scholars urged both the Pakistani government and Taliban authorities to maintain the pause in hostilities, ensuring that citizens can perform Hajj rituals in a safe and peaceful environment.

According to the statement, their appeal goes beyond a simple call for a ceasefire, encompassing broader diplomatic and social efforts aimed at reaching a fair and mutually acceptable resolution to long-standing disputes between the two countries.

They emphasized that extending the ceasefire could build trust, reduce civilian casualties, and pave the way for stronger regional cooperation and dialogue.

Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have periodically escalated due to cross-border attacks and accusations from both sides. Past short-term ceasefires during religious holidays have often been violated, highlighting the need for longer-term agreements.

International organizations, including the United Nations and regional mediators, have repeatedly urged Islamabad and Kabul to prioritize diplomacy and avoid civilian harm, especially during major religious observances.

Religious leaders hope that extending the ceasefire will not only protect civilians but also create a framework for sustained dialogue, reduce regional tensions, and strengthen peace initiatives in South Asia.

Religious Leaders Call for Extension of Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire Until Eid al-Adha
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UN Calls for Independent Investigation into Kabul Hospital Airstrike

March 25, 2026
Khaama Press

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has urged an independent, rapid, and transparent investigation into the recent airstrike on the “Omid” drug rehabilitation Hospital in eastern Kabul.

He stressed that the investigation must respect international law and civilian protection standards while holding responsible parties accountable for the attack.

Bennett added that UN experts are calling on both sides of the conflict to agree to a permanent ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties.

According to previous UN statements, recent cross-border clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban authorities have displaced over 115,000 civilians, creating a severe humanitarian crisis in border regions.

UN experts highlighted that from 26 February to the present, airstrikes and border clashes have caused at least 289 civilian casualties in Afghanistan, including 76 deaths and 213 injuries, with extensive damage to medical facilities, homes, markets, schools, and trade routes.

UN human rights officials condemned Pakistan’s 16 March airstrike on the Kabul rehabilitation center, expressing deepest condolences to families and wishing speedy recovery for the injured. They stressed that all parties must respect international humanitarian and human rights law.

In the past month, Pakistan has targeted more than ten Afghanistan provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Panjshir, citing counter-terrorism and military objectives against Taliban infrastructure. In response, Taliban authorities have signaled retaliatory measures, heightening regional tensions.

UN human rights experts called for full transparency, accountability, and cessation of violence to protect civilians. They stressed that adherence to international law is essential for long-term peace and regional stability in Afghanistan.

UN Calls for Independent Investigation into Kabul Hospital Airstrike
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