Eid Ceasefire Holds Under Strain; Pakistan Accused of Afghan Airspace Violation

The five-day Eid al-Fitr ceasefire declared by Pakistan on March 18 remained nominally in force on March 22, though under significant strain. Afghanistan celebrated Eid on March 19; Pakistan and some regions observed it on March 22 due to moon-sighting differences. Afghan Taliban officials accused Pakistani military aircraft of violating Afghan airspace during the ceasefire period, a claim Pakistan did not publicly acknowledge. Both governments maintained a conditional posture: any cross-border attack would trigger an immediate response. International pressure, including from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey — who facilitated the ceasefire — was building for a possible extension beyond the five-day window. Afghan analyst Sami Yousafzai reported the mood on both sides leaned toward a potential extension, though no formal agreement had been reached.