Pakistan resumes cross-border operations against militants in Afghanistan

Pakistan has resumed its military campaign targeting militant groups in Afghanistan following a temporary Eid al-Fitr ceasefire, senior security and government officials said Wednesday.

A senior security official said operations have intensified in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Kunar and Nuristan, focusing on militant networks operating across the border. The official described the actions as a response to cross-border attacks and ongoing security threats on Pakistani territory.

“Operations will continue until the elimination of the last khawarij,” the official said, referring to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants, adding that affected areas would remain under control during the campaign.

A senior government official, speaking to Nukta on condition of anonymity, confirmed the Eid pause had ended and that Pakistan would continue targeting what it described as terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan.

Eid ceasefire

Pakistan temporarily halted its military operations ahead of Eid al-Fitr as a goodwill gesture aligned with Islamic principles. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the ceasefire, requested by “brotherly Islamic nations” including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, lasted from March 18–19 to March 23–24.

The pause was accompanied by calls for dialogue and peace from religious scholars in both countries. A joint statement from 22 scholars, including 11 from Pakistan and 11 from Afghanistan, emphasized shared cultural, religious, and historical ties and urged both nations to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.

The statement stressed the importance of stability in both countries for broader regional peace, calling for misunderstandings to be resolved through dialogue and mutual trust.

Cross-border security context

Pakistan’s military operations in eastern Afghanistan come amid a longstanding pattern of cross-border militant activity. Officials have repeatedly cited threats from armed groups operating across the porous border, prompting repeated campaigns to secure Pakistani territory.

The resumption of Operation Ghazab lil Haq underscores Islamabad’s ongoing strategy of targeting what it labels terrorist networks beyond its borders while balancing temporary pauses for diplomatic and religious considerations.