Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has announced a temporary halt to its ongoing military campaign against militant groups in Afghanistan during Eidul Fitr, with Afghan authorities also declaring a similar pause in response.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the decision to suspend Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was taken as a goodwill gesture ahead of Eid and following requests from friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye.
The pause will remain in effect from midnight March 18–19 until midnight March 23–24. Tarar described the move as being in line with Islamic values and goodwill, while warning that operations would resume immediately if Pakistan faced any cross-border attacks or militant activity during this period.
Shortly after Islamabad’s announcement, the Afghan Taliban also declared a temporary suspension of military actions against Pakistan. Their spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the decision was made in response to appeals from the same regional countries.
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Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on February 26 following cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban. According to Pakistani officials, the operation has resulted in significant militant losses, with hundreds killed and injured, multiple positions destroyed or captured, and dozens of locations targeted through air strikes.
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Tarar said Pakistani forces had recently struck installations in Kabul and Nangarhar, targeting what he described as drone facilities, ammunition depots, and infrastructure used to support attacks inside Pakistan. He maintained that the strikes were precise and avoided civilian casualties, rejecting claims from Afghan authorities to the contrary.
