As Afghans celebrate Eid, there is at least some relief, with Afghanistan and Pakistan pausing military operations following mediation by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye after weeks of tension.
The pause comes after more than a month of cross-border strain, with both sides trading accusations over alleged militant activity along their shared border.
Afghanistan’s government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the decision was taken both in observance of Eid al-Fitr and in response to requests from regional mediators. He confirmed that Afghan forces would halt operations, stating: “The Afghan security and defence forces will temporarily suspend the Rad ul-Zulm defensive operations… in response to requests from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Türkiye.”
He also stressed Kabul’s position on security, adding that “safeguarding the country’s national security, sovereignty, and the lives of its people” remains a priority, and warning that “in the event of any threat, the Islamic Emirate will respond decisively.”
Pakistan announced a similar pause. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the move was both voluntary and coordinated with regional partners.
He said: “The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has decided to announce a temporary pause amidst ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq’,” adding that the suspension will run until midnight on 24 March 2026.
Tarar described the move as a gesture “in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms”, but warned that any “cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan” would see operations resume “with renewed intensity.”
The development marks a significant, though temporary, de-escalation. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that Kabul shelters militants - a claim Afghan authorities deny.
For now, the pause offers civilians on both sides a brief respite during Eid, though underlying tensions remain unresolved.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in Nuristan after armed groups, including alleged...
EU defence ministers have stepped up talks on military readiness and long-term support for Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Europe to close critical ...
China and the U.S. have unveiled a broader package of economic cooperation after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, covering t...
Iran has called for a diplomatic solution after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected its Hormuz proposal, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was awaiting a definitive U.S. response through mediators.
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
British police have arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after a major security incident was declared near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. air forces in Gloucestershire, England.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Six people have died after a two-storey residential building in a tourist area of central Athens collapsed, the Greek fire brigade said on Saturday (26 September), following an explosion that the mayor said was likely linked to gas infrastructure.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in Nuristan after armed groups, including alleged Islamic State members, crossed the border from Pakistan on Saturday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has captured a second U.S. military unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded fresh accusations over alleged militant activity in Afghanistan’s northeastern Nuristan province as tensions between the two neighbours escalate.
Willy Sagnol’s six-year spell as Georgia head coach has ended, closing a historic chapter that saw the country reach its first European Championship and advance to the last 16.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Houthi attacks increase pressure on Riyadh and threaten Red Sea shipping.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment