Pakistan Pauses Anti-Taliban Operation for Eid Amidst Tensions with Afghanistan

• Pakistan announced a "temporary pause" in Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban from March 18/19 to March 23/24 for Eid-ul-Fitr.
• The pause was initiated by Pakistan and requested by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye, but operations will resume immediately if cross-border attacks or terrorist incidents occur.
• The announcement follows Afghanistan's accusation that Pakistan killed 400 people in a Kabul rehabilitation hospital, which Pakistan denies, stating its operations target militant hideouts.
• Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, launched on February 26, has reportedly killed 684 Afghan Taliban personnel and injured over 912.
• Pakistan emphasized that the Afghan Taliban regime must choose between supporting terrorists or Pakistan, while Afghanistan held a mass funeral for the alleged victims.