Pakistan and Taliban Announce Temporary Ceasefire for Eid After Escalating Clashes

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban announced a temporary ceasefire from Wednesday to Monday to mark the end of Ramadan, following requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Both sides warned that any attacks or threats would lead to an immediate resumption of military operations. The pause comes after a Pakistani airstrike on a Kabul hospital killed hundreds, amid months of escalating cross-border clashes and ongoing concerns about active militant groups in the region.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government on Wednesday announced a temporary suspension of military strikes, describing the pause as a gesture to mark the end of Ramadan. Both countries said the halt for Eid al-Fitr had been requested by "brotherly Islamic countries," including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, highlighting the regional diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions along the border. According to Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the ceasefire will run from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday.
Tarar emphasized that the pause was offered "in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms," but he issued a warning that any cross-border attack, drone strike, or terrorist incident inside Pakistan would result in an immediate resumption of military operations "with renewed intensity." Pakistan was the first to declare the temporary halt, followed by a statement from Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid later Wednesday, which mirrored Pakistan’s position and included a caution that Taliban forces would respond "decisively" in the event of any threat.
The announcement came in the aftermath of a Pakistani airstrike on Monday that reportedly struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, killing hundreds of people, according to Afghan officials. Pakistan has denied targeting the hospital, maintaining that its strikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan were aimed solely at military sites, and dismissed reports of mass civilian casualties as propaganda intended to escalate tensions.
The recent ceasefire follows months of heightened hostilities, with clashes escalating since late February. Repeated cross-border fire and airstrikes have penetrated deep into Afghan territory, including strikes in Kabul itself, as Pakistan declared itself in "open war" with Afghanistan. The intensified fighting has alarmed the international community, particularly along the border region, where militant groups such as al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other extremist networks remain active and are believed to be seeking opportunities to regroup. The temporary pause is seen as a critical attempt to reduce violence during the religious holiday, though both sides have made it clear that any violations could quickly reignite hostilities.