Pakistan Announces Temporary Pause in Military Operations Against Afghanistan Ahead of Eid al-Fitr

Pakistan has declared a temporary halt to its ongoing military campaign, Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, effective from midnight March 18/19 through midnight March 23/24, 2026. The pause coincides with the eve and duration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the announcement, describing the decision as a “gesture in good faith” taken on Pakistan’s own initiative and in response to requests from brotherly Islamic nations: Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

“This pause reflects Islamic principles and respect for the holy occasion,” Tarar stated in an official release. He emphasized that the measure is conditional: any cross-border attack, drone strike, or terrorist incident originating from Afghan territory will trigger the immediate resumption of full-scale operations.

The announcement follows intensified hostilities that began in late February 2026, when Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq in response to alleged cross-border terrorism by groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban regime of harboring. Recent Pakistani strikes, including those on March 16 targeting sites in Kabul and Nangarhar, have been described by Pakistani officials as precise actions against military installations, ammunition depots, and drone facilities supporting attacks on Pakistan.

Officials in Islamabad stressed that the underlying demand remains unchanged: the Afghan Taliban must take concrete steps to eliminate threats to Pakistan’s security. The pause is positioned as a goodwill measure to allow reflection during Eid celebrations, though tensions persist along the Durand Line border.