• Decision taken on requests from S. Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye
• Tarar warns action to resume promptly if attacks occur
• DG ISPR insists Afghan soil being used for attacks against Pakistan
• FO rejects Indian statement
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday announced that Pakistan had decided on a “temporary pause” in the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban in view of Eidul Fitr and “at the request of brotherly Islamic countries”.
In his post on X, Mr Tarar said: “In view of the upcoming Islamic festival of Eidul Fitr, upon its own initiative as well as on the request from the brotherly Islamic countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye, the government of Pakistan has decided to announce a temporary pause amidst ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan.”
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
The minister said the pause would be applicable from midnight March 18-19 to midnight March 23-24.
“Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms,” he said. “However, in case of any cross-border attack, drone strike or terrorist incident inside Pakistan, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shall immediately resume with renewed intensity.”
Shortly after the announcement, the Afghan Taliban also declared a temporary suspension of their military operations against Pakistan.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also said the decision was taken in response to requests from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar.
Meanwhile, in a separate post, Mr Tarar shared details of losses inflicted during the operation on the Afghan Taliban and “Fitna al Khawarij”, a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the minister, 707 militants had been killed and more than 938 injured. He said 255 posts had been destroyed and 44 captured.
He added that 237 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns had been destroyed, while 81 locations across Afghanistan were targeted through air strikes.
He reiterated that on the night of March 16, Pakistan’s armed forces targeted Afghan military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar.
“In these strikes, Pakistan’s forces destroyed drone storage and technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage sites in Kabul and Nangarhar, which were being used by the Afghan Taliban and terrorist elements to carry out attacks against innocent Pakistani civilians,” he said.
“Similarly, Pakistan armed forces effectively targeted and destroyed Afghan Taliban posts in the Bajaur, Kurram, Torkham, Khyber, North and South Waziristan sectors,” he added.
He also shared video footage, saying it showed “precision engagements” against installations, posts and camps supporting terrorism from Afghan soil.
“No civilian population or infrastructure was targeted, contrary to the false claims being propagated by Afghan regime officials and sections of the media,” he said.
