In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Wednesday afternoon with Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, ahead of scheduled negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad later this week.

The call, described as “warm and cordial” and lasting more than 45 minutes, highlighted Pakistan’s role in helping secure a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, following weeks of rising regional tensions.

During the conversation, Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the Iranian leadership’s wisdom in agreeing to the ceasefire and thanked Pezeshkian for accepting Pakistan’s offer to host the negotiations. He also conveyed his respects to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked Sharif and praised Pakistan’s efforts in mediating the ceasefire. He confirmed that Iran would participate in the upcoming talks and sent best wishes to the people of Pakistan. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

The Islamabad-hosted negotiations follow a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, aimed at preventing further escalation and stabilizing the region.

Pakistan has actively called for an end to hostilities, citing economic disruptions and security concerns. Tehran has agreed to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping during the ceasefire.

International observers see the Islamabad talks as a critical opportunity to transform a temporary pause into a lasting settlement.

While global leaders have cautiously welcomed the ceasefire, they stress that sustained diplomacy will be necessary to achieve long-term peace. Analysts note that significant hurdles remain, and the outcome of the talks will have broad implications for regional stability and global markets.

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, will remain in custody following his arrest on multiple alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, local media reported Wednesday.

The 47-year-old former member of the elite Special Air Services Regiment was arrested on Tuesday and charged with five counts of war crimes, relating to the deaths of five civilians between 2009 and 2012. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Roberts-Smith was denied bail by police and taken to Silverwater Correctional Complex in western Sydney, where he spent the night. He did not participate via video link in a bail hearing on Wednesday morning.

His lawyer, Jordan Portokalli, told the court he would not be seeking bail and requested an in-person hearing later in the day. A formal bail review hearing has been scheduled for April 17 in a Sydney courthouse.

Roberts-Smith, a six-tour veteran of Afghanistan from 2006 to 2012, was celebrated as a national hero and awarded several top military honours, including the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for members of the armed forces in Britain and the Commonwealth.

The Australian Federal Police allege that the victims were unarmed civilians, detained and under Australian control at the time of their deaths, and were either shot by Roberts-Smith or by his subordinates acting under his orders and presence.

These charges follow a joint investigation launched in 2021 by the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator, established to examine alleged criminal conduct by Australian defence personnel.

Roberts-Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Allegations first surfaced in 2018 through a series of articles by Nine Entertainment newspapers. He later contested the claims in what became Australia’s most expensive defamation trial, in which he was found, on the balance of probabilities, to have been involved in the killing of four Afghan civilians.

A new report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) warns that escalating fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has triggered a growing humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged.

The situation report, covering the period from mid-March to early April, highlights the severe impact of ongoing shelling, airstrikes, and armed clashes along the disputed Durand Line.

Civilian casualties have reached several hundred, including children and at least one humanitarian worker.

Mass displacement and infrastructure damage

According to the report, more than 94,000 people have been displaced across eastern provinces, including Khost Province, Kunar Province, Nangarhar Province, Paktia Province, and Paktika Province. Assessments are ongoing in other affected areas such as Nuristan Province.

The violence has also taken a heavy toll on public infrastructure. At least 25 health facilities and 41 schools have been damaged, closed, or forced to suspend operations, disrupting access to healthcare, nutrition services, and education.

In one of the most significant incidents, a Pakistani airstrike on March 17 destroyed the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul. Additional damage has been reported to a market in Paktika, a fuel depot in Kandahar, and several religious sites in Kunar and Nuristan. At least 345 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.

Isolated communities cut off from aid

The report noted that humanitarian access remains a major concern, particularly in remote districts of Nuristan. Nearly 100,000 people in Bargematal and Kamdesh districts have been cut off from assistance since late February due to ongoing hostilities and dangerous access routes.

The main road connecting these areas has become unusable amid reports of cross-Durand Line firing by Pakistan, leaving residents without access to markets or medical services. Severe shortages of food and essential supplies have been reported, while local health facilities are facing critical stock shortages.

Efforts to establish an alternative route through the Poprak Pass are underway, but officials say it is unlikely to become operational in the near term.

Tensions and explosive hazards

The Torkham crossing briefly reopened on March 26, allowing a small number of Afghans to return before closing again hours later. The same day, an unexploded ordnance incident injured three children, underscoring the growing danger posed by explosive remnants of war.

Mine action teams have faced increasing challenges due to insecurity and funding shortages. The number of active teams has dropped significantly over the past two years, limiting the ability to clear hazardous areas despite Afghanistan having one of the highest rates of explosive ordnance casualties globally.

Humanitarian response under strain

Despite the challenges, aid agencies continue to provide assistance. By the end of March, thousands of families had received emergency food supplies, shelter support, medical aid, and cash assistance. Education programs have also resumed in some areas, reaching several thousand students.

However, humanitarian officials warn that needs continue to outpace available resources. Funding gaps and access constraints are hindering efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to those most affected.

Ongoing risks

Although a temporary ceasefire was observed during the Eid period, hostilities have continued before and after the holiday, particularly in eastern and southeastern regions.

Humanitarian agencies caution that without sustained de-escalation and improved access, the crisis could worsen further, leaving vulnerable communities increasingly exposed to displacement, food insecurity, and limited access to basic services.