Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree Eid Ceasefire Amid Kabul Funeral for Airstrike Victims
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a five-day ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan, as Kabul held a mass funeral for victims of an alleged Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital. The truce, brokered by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, comes amid escalating tensions between the neighbouring nations.
Ceasefire Announcement and Warnings
Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, announced on Wednesday that the pause in airstrikes on Afghanistan would last until Tuesday. He emphasised that Pakistan offered this gesture "in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms" but warned that operations would resume "in case of any cross-border attack, drone attack, or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan."
Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the ceasefire but did not specify a timeframe for the Afghan side. He also cautioned that his country "will respond courageously to any aggression in the event of a threat."
Mass Funeral for Airstrike Victims
The ceasefire announcement coincided with a mass funeral in Kabul for victims of Monday's alleged Pakistani airstrike on the Omid hospital, a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation centre. Afghan authorities reported that 408 people were killed and 265 injured, while the United Nations placed the death toll at 143. Pakistan denied attacking the facility, insisting it had "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure."
During the funeral, light rain fell as Afghan Red Crescent Society volunteers carried coffins from ambulances. Hundreds of mourners, including family members, gathered to pay their respects. Excavators were brought in to dig graves, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
Identification Challenges and Grieving Families
Health ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman revealed that the remains of more than 50 victims could not be identified, and some coffins contained multiple sets of remains. Najibullah Farooqi, head of the legal medicine directorate, stated, "Some bodies have been handed over after their identities were confirmed. However, a large number of bodies still remain with us."
Families of missing victims expressed anguish and frustration. Mazar, 50, who gave only one name, said, "We came here looking for our patient, he is missing. We checked the lists, but his name was not in the list of the living. Maybe he is injured or has been killed." Another unnamed man added, "We did not find his body, nor was he among the wounded, and his name is not on the list of survivors. We have come again today for more information."
Political Reactions and International Condemnation
Afghan interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, attending the mass funeral, condemned the attack, calling the victims innocent and targeted by "criminals." He vowed, "We will take revenge. We are not weak and helpless. You'll see the consequences of your crimes." However, he also noted that Afghanistan did not want escalation and was "trying to solve the problems through diplomacy."
The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that Pakistani airstrikes had killed hundreds of people, while the European Union and UN agencies condemned strikes on civilian and medical facilities, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. A joint statement from aid groups indicated that 115,000 civilians, including many children, had been displaced since the outbreak of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This ceasefire represents a fragile pause in a conflict that has caused significant civilian casualties and displacement, with both sides issuing stern warnings about potential resumptions of violence.
