Afghanistan announces conditional ceasefire with Taliban

India on Thursday rejected Pakistan's allegations of aggravating skirmishes with Afghanistan, calling them "baseless" and accusing Pakistan of blaming others for its own misdeeds.

In a video statement, Mirza argued that the current situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be examined through the framework of international law, particularly the principles upheld by the United Nations.

India's UN Ambassador, Harish Parvathaneni, has condemned Pakistan's "hypocritical" airstrikes in Afghanistan during Ramadan, which killed 185 civilians. Speaking at the UNSC, he denounced the strikes as flagrant violations of sovereignty and international law, while also slamming "trade and transit terrorism" targeting the landlocked nation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Bahraini counterpart to discuss escalating regional tensions. China urged an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue, stressing that national sovereignty must be respected. Beijing's special envoy is currently visiting the region to mediate and promote peace.

India raised concerns over humanitarian challenges, cross-border violence, and trade restrictions affecting Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the situation in the country. Delivering India's statement at the meeting, Permanent Representative Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni highlighted New Delhi's continued humanitarian support while drawing attention to issues including civilian casualties, forced returns, and barriers to trade for the landlocked nation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan as a "state sponsor of wrongful detention" in a release on Monday. He urged the Taliban to release Americans "unjustly detained," accusing the group of using "terrorist tactics" and "hostage diplomacy" to seek policy concessions from the US.

Oman Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Monday gave a call for the earliest return to diplomacy and ceasefire amid escalating tensions in West Asia and underlined that the economic damage and potential for humanitarian catastrophe are unsustainable.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday and conveyed his condolences on the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. He reaffirmed Russia's stance of immediate cessation of hostilities and said that he was in constant contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

The UN body said that from late evening on February 26 to March 5, it verified and recorded 185 civilian casualties in Afghanistan due to indirect fire and aerial attacks linked to cross-border armed clashes with Pakistan.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem stated that the group's recent strikes followed more than a year of restraint despite repeated Israeli violations. He highlighted ceasefire breaches, civilian casualties, and ongoing sovereignty violations, stressing that resistance remains legitimate as long as occupation and aggression against Lebanon continue.