Afghanistan-Pakistan Pause Fighting For Eid
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to temporarily pause military operations for Eid al-Fitr, offering a brief break in hostilities after one of the deadliest episodes in their recent conflict. The announcement came even as both sides continued to clash over what exactly was targeted in the Kabul bombing that triggered fresh outrage and deepened regional tension.
Afghanistan-Pakistan Eid Pause Begins
Pakistan said it would halt military operations from midnight on Wednesday until March 23 as a goodwill gesture during Eid, and Afghanistan announced a similar pause in defensive operations. The temporary suspension followed diplomatic outreach by friendly countries and appears aimed at preventing further escalation during the holiday period. Both sides, however, made it clear that the pause is conditional and could end immediately if any fresh attack takes place.
Kabul Bombing Target Remains In Dispute
The truce comes against the backdrop of the bombing of a major rehabilitation centre in Kabul, which Afghan authorities say was a civilian medical facility. Pakistan has denied hitting a hospital and instead said the site was linked to military storage, drone-related activity and militant infrastructure. The conflicting claims have turned the incident into the central dispute in the latest crisis, with each side presenting sharply different accounts of the target and its use.
Civilian Toll Deepens Bilateral Tensions
The strike has intensified anger in Afghanistan, where families are still searching for missing relatives and mourning the dead. Afghan officials have reported a very high casualty toll, while international agencies have confirmed a lower but still severe number of deaths and injuries. The episode has widened mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad at a time when both countries are already accusing each other of supporting cross-border militancy. Even with the Eid pause now in place, the broader dispute over accountability, targeting and border security remains unresolved.
