Pakistan's information minister announced on March 18 a pause on strikes in Afghanistan beginning midnight the same day and extending through midnight on March 23, AP reported on March 18. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey reportedly requested that Pakistan implement the pause to coincide with the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday, which is expected around March 20.

Pakistan's announcement is the first and most substantial concession Islamabad has granted amid weeks of diplomatic pressure and mediation efforts by regional countries to end the fighting, which began in late February. Pakistan's decision also comes a day after Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul hit a local drug rehabilitation center, killing more than 100 people and injuring scores in the deadliest incident of the conflict thus far.