Pakistan Temporarily Suspends Operations in Afghanistan During Eid

Attaullah Tarar has announced that Pakistan will temporarily suspend its military operations in Afghanistan targeting what it described as “terrorists and their supporting infrastructure.” In a post on X on Wednesday, Tarar said the decision was made in response to requests from several Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, to allow for reduced violence and prevent harm to civilians during the Eid al-Fitr period. He stated that the temporary pause will run from March 19 until midnight on March 23–24, 2026, describing it as a gesture of goodwill and respect for Islamic values. However, Tarar emphasized that if any cross-border attacks, drone strikes, or militant activities occur on Pakistani territory, the “Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq” would resume immediately with greater intensity. The announcement comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban in recent weeks, which have reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties, including in Kabul.