ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the temporary pause in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban has ended, and military actions have resumed.
FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, during a weekly briefing, confirmed that the operation is ongoing and will continue until its objectives are fully achieved.
He described the campaign as a precise and targeted effort against terrorist leadership, infrastructure, logistics networks, and facilitators operating within Taliban-controlled areas.
According to Andrabi, the pause was observed during Eidul Fitr in response to requests from friendly Islamic countries. The suspension ended at midnight between March 23 and 24, after which operations resumed.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s stance would remain unchanged until the Taliban administration reconsiders what he termed its support for militant networks instead of prioritizing the welfare of the Afghan people.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had announced the temporary halt on March 18 as a goodwill gesture in line with Islamic traditions. Following this, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also declared a temporary suspension of operations against Pakistan, citing requests from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Qatar.
Despite appeals from religious scholars in both countries to extend the ceasefire until Eidul Azha, tensions persist. Pakistan has repeatedly urged action against militant sanctuaries linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, but officials say these concerns remain unaddressed.
Separately, the Torkham border crossing reopened on Thursday after being closed since February 26. Authorities began processing stranded and undocumented Afghan nationals for repatriation.
Officials at a transit facility near Hamza Baba mausoleum in Landi Kotal confirmed that around 50 Afghan nationals were the first to be cleared for return, followed by another group of approximately 100 individuals transported from Peshawar.
They added that families without valid travel documents were also permitted to return after completing registration, while coordination between Pakistani and Afghan officials ensured safe movement of individuals across the border.
