Pakistan, Taliban agree on strike pause for end of Ramadan

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government on Wednesday announced a temporary suspension of military strikes, framing the temporary ceasefire as a gesture to mark the end of Ramadan.

Both sides said the halt for Eid al-Fitr had been requested by "brotherly Islamic countries," including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

The pause is set to run from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday, according to Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

Pause as a 'gesture in good faith,' Pakistan says

"Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms," Tarar wrote on X.

But he warned that "any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan" would trigger an immediate resumption of operations "with renewed intensity."

Islamabad was first to declare the pause. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid followed later Wednesday, issuing a similar statement and a parallel warning that "in the event of any threat," Taliban forces would respond "decisively."