On Wednesday, both Pakistan and Afghanistan confirmed a temporary halt in hostilities in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr and at the urging of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar. This announcement came one day after the Afghan government accused Pakistan of conducting an attack on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul that allegedly resulted in 400 fatalities. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Ataullah Tarar, shared the news via a post on X, shortly after Pakistan carried out new strikes on reported Taliban positions in the border regions.

“Considering the upcoming celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, and through our initiative as well as requests from our brotherly Islamic nations of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye, Pakistan has decided to implement a temporary ceasefire amid ongoing Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq,” stated Tarar. The ceasefire is set to be effective from midnight of March 18-19 until midnight of March 23-24. He also noted that should any incursions, drone attacks, or terrorism occur on Pakistani soil, military operations would recommence immediately.

Response from Afghan Authorities

In a subsequent statement, Afghan government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid announced a similar pause in defensive operations, coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr celebration and following requests from the aforementioned nations. Mujahid emphasized that Kabul would respond decisively to any threats or acts of aggression.

Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq Overview

Initiated on February 26, Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq was described as a response to what were deemed aggressive actions by the Afghan Taliban forces along the extensive 2,600-kilometer border. Pakistani government reports indicate that at least 707 Taliban members have been killed and over 938 injured during this operation. Significant retaliatory measures were undertaken against the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij in the South Waziristan zone, where military sources claimed that numerous identified Taliban outposts were rendered ineffective.

An official involved stated that based on military assessments, the operation would persist until all its established objectives are met. According to Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, the Afghan Taliban’s allegation of civilian casualties due to airstrikes in Kabul was firmly denied. He asserted that the targeted location served as a weapons depot purportedly also housing drones.

Continued Military Operations

In addressing the broader implications of the situation, Lt Gen Chaudhry remarked on the Taliban’s tactics, wherein combatants sometimes disguise themselves in civilian attire to perpetrate acts of terrorism. He claimed that Pakistan successfully dismantled 225 Taliban positions while capturing an additional 44, and conducted 81 airstrikes within Afghan territory. Allegations emerged linking India to support for the Afghan Taliban, including the provision of rudimentary drones used against Pakistan, although no substantiating evidence was presented.

In another development, security forces in North Waziristan successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt attributed to militants affiliated with the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij. An official mentioned that operatives involved in this attempt were either neutralized during the operation or forced to retreat.

Casualties and Funeral in Afghanistan

Amid these developments, Afghanistan held a mass funeral for the victims of the attack, which the Afghan Taliban-led government claimed resulted in significant casualties. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani described the incident as a grave violation of humanitarian principles. In responding to this claim, Tarar insisted that Pakistan’s actions were focused on eradicating terrorist sanctuaries and denied the narrative constructed by the Afghan Taliban regarding the hospital attack.

Tarar reiterated that evidence supports Pakistan’s stance, indicating that the locations targeted contained munitions. He added that the Afghan authorities had removed misleading information related to the supposed strikes, demonstrating a shift in their reported narrative.

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