Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary halt in escalating conflict following a recent deadly airstrike in Kabul, where hundreds were reportedly killed at a drug rehabilitation hospital. The decision to pause hostilities comes ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, observed at the end of Ramadan, and following mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar. These countries have been working towards a ceasefire since February when cross-border fighting resumed.
The pause in airstrikes was announced by Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, who emphasized that the gesture is made in good faith and accordance with Islamic norms. However, operations will resume immediately in response to any cross-border or terrorist incidents within Pakistan. On the Afghan side, government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid vowed a courageous response to any aggression if needed.
The ceasefire follows accusations from Afghanistan that Pakistan targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a claim Pakistan denies. The deadly attack in Kabul on Monday marked the deadliest incident in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The toll from the strike, which Afghan officials estimate at 408 dead and 265 wounded, has yet to be independently verified.
The recent clashes have seen repeated cross-border skirmishes and airstrikes despite calls for a ceasefire. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, which it alleges carry out attacks within Pakistan. Kabul refutes these allegations.
Ahead of a mass funeral in Kabul, bulldozers prepared pits in a cemetery for more than 50 unidentified victims of the recent violence. The Omid hospital, targeted in the airstrike, was part of efforts by the Taliban government to address the country’s drug addiction problem. Afghanistan, known for its poppy fields and heroin production, has faced challenges combatting drug addiction amidst ongoing conflict and poverty.
Pakistan defended its actions, stating that its strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure and military facilities of the Afghan Taliban regime. The conflict has raised concerns within the international community, especially given the presence of other militant groups in the region.
