Even as the brief ceasefire offered a fleeting pause for diplomacy, Andrabi insisted Pakistan’s fundamental aims remain steadfast and unshaken
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan resumed military operations against Afghanistan this week following the end of a temporary Eid-ul-Fitr ceasefire, reigniting tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed that the pause in hostilities had concluded at midnight between March 23 and 24, with operations recommencing immediately and expected to continue until Pakistan’s stated security objectives were achieved.
At a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi explained that the brief halt in fighting had been observed at the request of friendly nations, including Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as a goodwill gesture during the religious holiday.
“The temporary ceasefire provided a short window for reflection and diplomacy, but our core objectives remain unchanged,” Andrabi said. He added that the operations were directly linked to concrete actions by the Afghan Taliban administration against terrorist groups operating along the border, which Islamabad has repeatedly described as a “misplaced priority” for Kabul.
Tensions between the two neighbors had escalated sharply after Kabul accused Pakistan of conducting an air strike on a drug rehabilitation center in the Afghan capital last week, claiming more than 400 casualties.
Pakistan strongly rejected the allegation, insisting that its strikes were “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.” The accusation briefly paused fighting, but hostilities resumed after the Eid break.
Amid the ongoing military operations, the Torkham border crossing was temporarily reopened on Thursday, allowing hundreds of Afghan refugees to return home after weeks of being stranded due to suspended cross-border trade and movement.
Zabiullah, an Afghan who had been waiting at the crossing for more than six weeks, said: “We have been stranded here for at least a month and a half. There are also sick relatives with us.” Trade at key crossings has largely remained suspended since Pakistan first launched air strikes in October.
Pakistan continues to host over two million Afghan refugees, many fleeing decades of conflict. In recent months, Islamabad has intensified repatriation efforts under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023. Authorities have called on all Afghan nationals without valid visas to leave the country, warning that some individuals may be linked to terrorist activity or criminal incidents.
