Pakistan, Afghanistan Announce Temporary Pause In Fighting For Eid

New Delhi: Two days after Kabul blamed Islamabad for a deadly airstrike in the Afghan capital, 
Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a temporary pause in their military operations against each other for Islamic festival of Eid-al-Fitr.

The development comes two days after a deadly airstrike hit drug rehab centre in Kabul, which killed hundreds of people at hospital.

What did Pakistan say about the ceasefire?

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said that Islamabad was pausing the military operations due to Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and will be celebrated at the end of this week.

In a post on X, Attaullah Tarar said that the pause was on Pakistan's ​own initiative and at the request by  "brotherly Islamic countries" Saudi ⁠Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

According to the post, the pause would take effect at midnight on Wednesday and last until midnight on March 23.

"Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms," he said.

In the same post, he warned that "In case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, (operations) shall immediately resume with renewed intensity."

Did Afghanistan also agree for ceasefire?

After the Pakistani announcement, Afghanistan government also announced a temporary suspension.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a social media post said that Kabul was calling a temporary halt to defensive operations on the occasion of Eid ⁠and also at the ‌request of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar.

In a post on X, he wrote, "Temporary Suspension of Defensive Operations (Rad-ul Zulm) The security and defense forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan hereby announce a temporary suspension of the 'Defensive Operations (Rad-ul Zulm)' on the arrival of the  blessed Eid-ul Fitr."

Zabihullah further said that Afghanistan would respond to any aggression in the event of any threat.

"In the event of any threat, the Islamic Emirate will respond decisively," he added.

Temporary Suspension of Defensive Operations (Rad-ul Zulm)
The security and defense forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan hereby announce a temporary suspension of the “Defensive Operations (Rad-ul Zulm)” on the arrival of the blessed Eid-ul Fitr. 1/4

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 18, 2026

How many were killed in deadly airstrike?

The ceasefire announcement came shortly after Afghanistan authorities held a mass funeral in Kabul for some of the victims that were killed in Monday's strike.

Afghanistan said that 408 people were killed in the deadliest airstrike on Monday, with 265 wounded.

However, Pakistan has rejected Afghanistan's accusation that it targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, and said that its strikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan on Monday had been against military facilities.