Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Broker Eid Ceasefire Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Afghanistan and Pakistan announced a temporary halt in hostilities on 18 March 2026, agreeing to observe a ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr period at the joint request of Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The pause took effect from midnight between 18 and 19 March and runs until midnight between 23 and 24 March.
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the decision on social media, stating that his government was suspending Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq, its ongoing military campaign targeting militant infrastructure in Afghanistan. "Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms," Tarar wrote, adding that operations would resume immediately if cross-border attacks, drone strikes or terrorist incidents occurred inside Pakistan during the period.
Afghanistan's Taliban administration separately confirmed it would observe the truce for the duration of the holiday.
The announcement came two days after Afghan officials said a Pakistani airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul killed approximately 408 people and wounded 265. Pakistan rejected the accusation that it had struck a civilian facility, insisting its strikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan on 16 March had targeted military sites and dismissed Afghan casualty figures as propaganda. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan had separately documented 76 civilian deaths and 213 injuries from hostilities between 26 February and 16 March, before the Kabul hospital incident.
The conflict between the two neighbours escalated sharply in late February following cross-border attacks. Since then, at least 107 people have been killed, including soldiers and civilians on both sides. Erdoğan had publicly offered to mediate a ceasefire as early as 4 March.
The Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire on 18 March:
"We welcome that Afghanistan and Pakistan have responded positively to the calls made by Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and declared a ceasefire during the period of Eid al-Fitr. Based on this decision, we hope that the ceasefire will be observed and pave the way to a process whereby lasting peace and prosperity will be provided to the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The ceasefire is temporary and includes no negotiating framework. A Qatar-brokered ceasefire agreed in October 2025 had already broken down before the current round of fighting began.
Türkiye's re-engagement in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict predates the Eid ceasefire. On 13 March, President Erdoğan spoke by telephone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and offered to contribute to restoring a truce, six days into continuous border fighting, as reported by Bosphorus News. Foreign Minister Fidan had separately contacted Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi the previous week.
***Casualty figures are drawn from Afghan government statements, Pakistani government statements, and UNAMA reporting. The death toll from the Omid hospital strike has not been independently verified. Pakistan has denied striking a civilian facility.