ISLAMABAD: A group of clerics from Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday appealed to the authorities on both sides to extend the pause in hostilities — which was announced for Eidul Fitr — to Eidul Azha.

In Pakistan, the announcement was made by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on March 18, three days before Eidul Fitr.

“In view of the upcoming Islamic festival of Eidul Fitr, upon its own initiative as well as on the request from the brotherly Islamic countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye, the government of Pakistan has decided to announce a temporary pause amidst ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan,” Tarar had posted on X.

The minister said the pause would be applicable from midnight March 18-19 to midnight March 23-24.

Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.

Eleven Pakistani and as many Afghan clerics signed a joint statement released on Tuesday night.

The statement says: “With the joint efforts and cooperation of the esteemed public and political scholars and respected tribal leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, we are making a sincere, serious and conciliatory move towards a sustainable and dignified solution to the conflict between our two countries.”

In the statement, the clerics from the two sides urged Pakistani authorities and the Afghan Taliban to extend the pause in fighting till Eidul Azha so that people could perform Haj in a “peaceful atmosphere”.

The statement said the “peace movement” would not be restricted to the appeal for an extension in the pause in fighting, but as part of this initiative, all possible “diplomatic and social efforts” would be made for a “fair and acceptable” resolution to longstanding issues between Islamabad and Kabul.

Mutasim Agha Jan, former finance minister during the Taliban regime’s first government, said an “extension in the ceasefire would give them time to negotiate with the leaders in both countries and find a solution to the conflict”.

“Impartial people and those who don’t hold any govt position will be part of the process.”

The clerics added that their efforts were aimed at finding a solution agreeable to both sides and one that could lay the foundation of lasting stability and harmony in the region.