ISLAMABAD (AP) – A significant ceasefire was announced early Thursday by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a key outlawed militant group known for a series of gun and bomb attacks. This three-day ceasefire is timed to coincide with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan. The TTP's announcement arrived just hours after Pakistan and Afghanistan declared a temporary pause in fighting, with no reported exchanges of fire since late February, when clashes reignited.
Mohammad Khurasani, a spokesperson for the TTP, stated that the ceasefire aims to allow the local populace to celebrate the Eid holiday. This group, while separate from the Afghan Taliban, has aligned with them and has escalated its attacks within Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban regained control in August 2021. The TTP is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the United Nations. Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of providing refuge to TTP leaders and operatives, facilitating cross-border strikes, a claim that the Afghan authorities have denied.
The ceasefire is scheduled to commence on the first day of Eid, which is anticipated to start Friday in Pakistan, depending on the moon sighting. In a related development, Pakistan and Afghanistan revealed plans for a fighting pause until Monday night, initiated at the request of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar. These nations have been mediating efforts to resolve hostilities since confrontations resumed in February and had previously facilitated a ceasefire agreement in October.
The decision for a ceasefire follows a devastating airstrike by Pakistan on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul earlier in the week, which reportedly resulted in 408 fatalities and injured 265 individuals, according to Afghan Taliban officials. However, this casualty figure has yet to be independently verified. Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, asserted that the military did not target any healthcare facility, claiming that the strikes were aimed at an ammunition depot, simultaneous to announcing the temporary pause in hostilities with Kabul.
The exchange of accusations and the ongoing violence highlight the complex and sensitive relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially in the context of the TTP's activities and the regional efforts for de-escalation facilitated by external mediators. As the region approaches significant Islamic observances, the effectiveness of these temporary pauses in hosting goodwill remains to be seen, alongside ongoing diplomatic dialogues aimed at sustainable peace.
