Pakistan has announced a "temporary pause" in the operation against the Afghan Taliban in the wake of the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr at the "request of brotherly Islamic countries", the country's information minister has said.
Pakistan has been carrying out airstrikes in Afghanistan in an ongoing operation that has been named Ghazab lil-Haq. The hostilities between the two countries started in late February, two days ahead of the United States-Israel and Iran war. Pakistan said that the operation was launched following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban across the border.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar took to the social media platform X and announced the temporary pause in the operation.
"In view of the upcoming Islamic festival of Eid Ul 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 the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has decided to announce temporary pause amidst ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan." Tarar posted on his X handle. His X handle remains withheld in India.
He added that the pause will be applicable from "midnight March 18/19 to midnight March 23/24." He said that his country offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms. "However, in case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shall immediately resume with renewed intensity," he warned.
Also Read: Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan Of Deadly Air Strike On Kabul Hospital: 400 Killed, 250 Injured
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out a strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in the country's capital, Kabul. More than 400 people were killed in the strike, the Afghan authorities were quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
Islamabad, however, refuted the allegations levelled by the Taliban, saying that its strikes in the neighbouring country have avoided civilian sites. "We strongly refute and reject these allegations," Tarar told Al Jazeera Arabic on Tuesday, "Pakistan has only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations."
Also Read: 'Will Respond In Their Language': Taliban Warns Pakistan After Deadly Kabul Airstrike
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