Pakistan Announces Temporary Halt to ‘Operation Ghazb-ul-Haq’
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan has announced a temporary suspension of its ongoing military campaign, ‘Operation Ghazb-ul-Haq’, being conducted in Afghanistan against what it describes as terrorists and their supporting networks.
Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar stated on Wednesday via social media platform X that the decision was taken in view of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. He added that the move also follows requests from brotherly Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.
According to the minister, the pause will be in effect from midnight between March 18 and 19 until midnight between March 23 and 24, 2026. He described the step as a gesture of goodwill and in line with Islamic values.
However, Tarar cautioned that any cross-border aggression, including drone strikes or terrorist incidents داخل پاکستان، would result in the immediate resumption of the operation with greater intensity.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high following reports from Kabul, where mass funeral prayers were held for victims of a recent deadly strike on an alleged drug rehabilitation center.
According to reports, hundreds were killed and over 200 injured in the incident, making it one of the deadliest escalations in recent Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
At the funeral, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani condemned the attack, calling the victims innocent civilians. “Today is a day of grief,” he said, offering condolences to the families and warning that افغانستان would respond to what he termed a “crime.”
Despite the strong rhetoric, Haqqani indicated that the Afghan government still prefers dialogue over further escalation. “We do not want war, but we are trying to resolve the situation through diplomacy,” he added.
Pakistan has denied deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and maintains that its actions are aimed at militants allegedly operating from Afghan territory—an accusation Kabul continues to reject.
The situation underscores rising tensions between the two neighboring countries, even as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation.
