Reporting snapshot · 21 March 2026. The Eid pause is holding, but ministers say the operation has been halted rather than terminated and will resume if the Taliban do not act against militants.
‘Temporarily halted, not ended’
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Saturday, 21 March 2026, that Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against militancy had been temporarily halted for Eidul Fitr but had not ended, and urged the Afghan Taliban to fulfil commitments made under the Doha Agreement, The News International reported.
Chaudhry said Pakistan must prioritise its own security interests and that militant activity inside the country was being directed from across the neighbouring state. He said the pause was tied to Eid and remained temporary, warning that action would resume as necessary.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said terrorism had not been completely eliminated and the campaign would continue, while asking the nation to remember the sacrifices of martyrs on Eid. He said Pakistan was gaining ground because of the security forces’ sacrifices, and that a ceasefire with the Afghan side was in place for Eid despite continuing concerns over support for militant elements.
Islamabad’s demands
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan neither sought war nor intended to occupy any part of Afghanistan. He said Islamabad’s sole demand was that Afghan soil not be used for terrorism against Pakistan, adding that there would be no dispute if such assurances were provided. Sanaullah said the operation was aimed at eliminating militant hideouts and safe havens, and that any re-emergence of such bases would be monitored and answered.
The statements came on the second full day of the five-day Eid pause agreed on 18 March, which Pakistan announced and Kabul matched hours later after mediation requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye. On 20 March the information ministry rejected Afghan Taliban claims that Pakistan had violated the truce, calling them frivolous and warning that any cross-border attack would end the pause immediately.
What remains unresolved
There is still no formal ceasefire, only a time-bound suspension of operations. Pakistan has not said what evidence it would accept that the Taliban have acted against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and Kabul has not withdrawn its truce-violation allegation. Both sides have said they will resume operations at once if the other attacks.
Sources & reporting notes
An original synthesis of contemporaneous Pakistani reporting, not eyewitness reconstruction. Sources were reviewed on 21 March 2026.
- The News International — "Operation halted, not ended, Taliban must fulfil promises: minister"Published 21 March 2026 · Primary report for the statements by Talal Chaudhry, Khawaja Asif and Rana Sanaullah on the Eid pause and Pakistan's demands of the Afghan Taliban.
- Independent Pakistan — "Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims of Eid ceasefire violation, warns of swift resumption of strikes"Published 21 March 2026 · Context on the information ministry's rebuttal and its warning that any attack would immediately end the pause.
- Dawn — "Terrorists operating from Afghanistan won't be allowed to undermine Pakistan's security: CDF Munir"Published 21 March 2026 · Corroborating report on the security posture over Eid, including the army chief's remarks in Kurram.
