Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary pause in hostilities during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, following weeks of deadly cross-border violence between the two neighbouring countries.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Wednesday that the ceasefire will take effect from midnight Thursday and continue until midnight Tuesday. He said the initiative was made at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye.

“Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms,” Tarar said in a statement, while warning that military operations would resume immediately in case of any cross-border or terrorist attacks.

Shortly after the announcement, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan confirmed it would also temporarily halt military operations against Pakistan.

The ceasefire comes amid heightened tensions, just days after Kabul accused Pakistani forces of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, allegedly killing hundreds. Pakistan has strongly denied the allegations, stating that its operations target only “terrorist infrastructure and military locations.”

The United Nations reported 143 deaths linked to the incident at the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital, though the toll remains unverified.

According to Afghan authorities, the strikes were part of escalating military actions, while Pakistan maintains they were aimed at preventing armed groups from launching attacks from Afghan territory.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the intensifying conflict is placing severe strain on Afghanistan’s healthcare system, with at least six health facilities affected since late February.

Welcoming the development, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the temporary truce as a “positive gesture” that could help de-escalate tensions and pave the way for a sustainable ceasefire, aimed at ensuring civilian safety and regional stability.

BOB Post