Pakistan announces temporary pause in ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ for Eid
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday announced a temporary pause in “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” in view of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
In a statement shared on social media, the minister said the Government of Pakistan has decided to suspend the ongoing operation against terrorist elements and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan as a goodwill gesture.
According to the announcement, the pause will be in effect from midnight March 18/19, 2026, to midnight March 23/24, 2026.
TEMPORARY PAUSE IN OPERATION GHAZAB LIL HAQ
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 18, 2026
(18 Mar 26)
In view of the upcoming Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, upon its own initiative as well as on the request from the brotherly Islamic countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye,…
The decision was taken on Pakistan’s own initiative and also in response to requests from brotherly Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.
The minister stated that the move reflects Pakistan’s commitment to Islamic values and goodwill during the religious festival. However, he warned that in case of any cross-border aggression, drone attack, or terrorist incident inside Pakistan, the operation would immediately resume with full force.
Providing an operational update, the minister said that until the announcement of the ceasefire, security forces inflicted significant losses on militant groups identified as Fitna Al Khawarij and Afghan Taliban elements. According to the figures shared, 707 militants were killed and over 938 injured, while 255 posts were destroyed and 44 captured.
He added that 237 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery systems were destroyed, and 81 terrorist locations across Afghanistan were targeted through air operations.
The statement further said that on the night of March 16, Pakistan’s armed forces carried out strikes on Afghan military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar. These operations targeted drone storage facilities, technical support infrastructure, and ammunition depots allegedly used for attacks against Pakistani civilians.
Additionally, positions linked to Afghan Taliban elements were targeted in Bajaur, Kurram, Torkham Khyber, and North and South Waziristan sectors.
The minister maintained that the strikes were precise and limited to militant infrastructure, rejecting claims of civilian casualties and stating that no civilian population or infrastructure was targeted.