Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to temporarily pause military operations during Eid al-Fitr, in a surprise move following a deadly airstrike in Kabul that has sharply escalated tensions between the দুই neighbors.
The Afghan Taliban government said more than 400 people were killed and 265 wounded in Monday night’s strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul. However, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported lower figures, confirming 143 নিহত and 119 আহত. Casualty figures remain unverified independently.
Pakistan rejected claims that civilians were targeted, stating the strike was aimed at “military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.”
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the ceasefire was a goodwill gesture for Eid and came at the request of countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. The pause began বুধবার রাত থেকে and is expected to last until March 23.
He warned that Pakistan would resume operations “with renewed intensity” if any cross-border or террорист incident occurs.
Shortly after Pakistan’s announcement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed that Afghanistan would also halt defensive operations during Eid but would respond to any aggression.
The airstrike targeted the former NATO base Camp Phoenix, which Afghan officials say had been converted into a civilian rehabilitation centre years ago. পাকিস্তান দাবি করেছে the site was being used to store drones, weapons, and even Soviet-era SCUD missiles—though no evidence was provided.
Independent experts say it remains difficult to verify either side’s claims without a neutral investigation. Aid groups, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, indicated that while military infrastructure may have existed nearby, civilians were clearly among the victims.
The latest সংঘাত highlights worsening relations between the দুই countries, which have traded accusations since last year over alleged militant गतिविधি across borders. Despite mediation efforts by countries like China, tensions have recently intensified, raising concerns about regional stability.