Pakistan vows to ‘eradicate terrorism’ as Afghan truce nears end

Pakistan reaffirms commitment to combat terrorism as Afghan ceasefire approaches end amid rising tensions and recent casualties.

Pakistan's foreign minister said Monday (March 23, 2026) that the country remains committed to "eradicating the menace of terrorism", as the clock ticked down to the end of a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan.

Both countries last Wednesday (March 18, 2026) announced a halt to weeks of hostilities for the Id al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, agreeing to a temporary ceasefire until midnight Monday.

But in a message to mark Pakistan Day, a national holiday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar indicated that the country's approach to the conflict had not changed.

"Pakistan remains firmly committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism," he said in a statement. "Pakistan's actions inside Afghanistan... are directed towards this goal."

On Sunday, the Taliban government and a medical source said one person was killed by a mortar shell fired by Pakistan in the eastern border province of Kunar.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been locked in conflict for months over claims from Islamabad that Kabul is harbouring extremists behind cross-border attacks on its territory.