Pakistan declined a request for a visit to Islamabad by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, The Nation newspaper reported March 27.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on March 25 visited Afghanistan for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Reuters reported.

Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was installed as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister on March 25 by President Asif Ali Zardari, PTI reported.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will discuss peace negotiations with Taliban officials in Qatar within the coming week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said March 24, Reuters reported.

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan on March 24, despite the possibility of arrest and assassination attempts by the Taliban, Reuters reported.

The Pakistani Taliban has prepared a squad of suicide bombers to attack former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf when he returns to the county, a Taliban spokesman said March 23, AFP reported.