Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has welcomed the extension of the ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan but made it clear that the continuation of this fragile truce depends entirely on Kabul taking verifiable action against militants operating from Afghan soil.
At a press briefing on Friday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the outcome of recent negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Ankara and Doha, as “a victory for Pakistan” but emphasized that the agreement is conditional and not open-ended.
The talks followed a series of intense cross-border clashes that erupted earlier this month after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting militants said to be linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Kabul condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and responded with retaliatory fire across the more than 2,600-kilometer frontier.
Under the terms of the interim agreement reached on October 19 and extended during the Istanbul talks held between October 25–30, both sides agreed to maintain the ceasefire and to implement a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure accountability for any violations.
However, Pakistani security officials stressed that the truce will only remain valid if Afghanistan takes meaningful steps, dismantling militant hideouts, disrupting logistics networks, and prosecuting militant leaders, and provides credible evidence of such actions.
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“If Afghanistan fails to deliver verifiable proof of agreed steps, or if militants continue to launch attacks from Afghan soil, Pakistan will deem the ceasefire violated and reserves all options to safeguard its sovereignty and citizens,” one senior Pakistani official told Arab News, on condition of anonymity.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that both sides had agreed to future discussions, with the next high-level meeting scheduled in Istanbul on November 6 to determine how the oversight mechanism will be implemented.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to TTP militants who have intensified attacks inside Pakistan in recent years. Kabul denies the allegations and strongly objects to any Pakistani strikes on its territory.
In his remarks, Tarar reiterated Pakistan’s position “Support for terrorism must end. A mechanism for monitoring, verification, and enforcement in case of violations will also be implemented.” He also expressed gratitude to Qatar and Turkey for their mediation efforts.
While the truce offers a window of peace, Islamabad made clear that it remains “conditional;” entered in good faith but grounded in realism, given repeated cycles of violence and ceasefire breakdowns in recent years.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
