Islamabad — Pakistan has welcomed the joint declaration reached in Türkiye under the mediation of Ankara and Doha, calling it a “positive but conditional” step toward stabilizing its western border. The agreement, part of the Istanbul peace process, marks the first formal understanding between Islamabad and Kabul since tensions escalated earlier this year.

Officials in Islamabad described the arrangement as a “conditional truce,” one that hinges entirely on Afghanistan’s verifiable commitment to preventing cross-border terrorism, particularly by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated militant groups.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the outcome of the Istanbul talks as a “victory” for Pakistan, adding that the responsibility now rested with the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against militant outfits, the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported.

“Pakistan’s stance has been clear, support for terrorism must end. A mechanism for monitoring, verification, and enforcement in case of violations will also be implemented,” he said, thanking Qatar and Türkiye for their mediation.

A senior Pakistani security official said Islamabad has demanded credible evidence of action, including the dismantling of militant hideouts, disruption of logistical routes, arrests or prosecutions of leadership, and transparent reporting through the joint monitoring and verification mechanism established under Türkiye and Qatar’s supervision. “If Afghanistan fails to deliver verifiable proof or if attacks continue from Afghan soil, Pakistan will deem the ceasefire violated and reserves all options to safeguard its sovereignty,” the official warned.

Ceasefire: Conditional, Not Symbolic

Officials emphasized that the ceasefire is strategic, not symbolic, and will remain in effect only as long as peace is maintained inside Pakistan. Any terrorist activity emanating from Afghan territory, Islamabad warned, would automatically nullify the arrangement.

“This conditionality is clear, firm, and non-negotiable, the onus of peace now lies squarely on the Afghan Taliban regime,” one official said.

Beyond Border Management: Verifiable Mechanisms

Pakistan clarified that when it referred to “verifiable mechanisms,” it meant tangible ground actions rather than symbolic measures such as fencing or patrols. These include dismantling terrorist infrastructure, shutting down training camps, and cutting the logistical and financial lifelines of the TTP and its affiliates.

“Only through concrete action, not verbal assurances, can credibility be established,” a senior official remarked.

Why Istanbul Again on November 6

The next round of talks, scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul, will focus on refining and institutionalizing the verification framework agreed upon this week. Officials said the continued engagement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy, but also its insistence on results-based accountability.

“If this were merely a symbolic ceasefire, there would be no need for another round,” a senior diplomat noted, calling the follow-up meeting an effort to transform “temporary calm into a durable structure of accountability.”

A Strategic Win for Pakistan

Observers have described the Istanbul understanding as a diplomatic success for Pakistan, noting that Islamabad has succeeded in placing its security concerns at the center of regional negotiations.

By ensuring that the Afghan side accepted a results-based peace framework, Pakistan has effectively established the rules of engagement: peace if there is peace, and response if there is terror.

“This is both a military and diplomatic win,” said a senior analyst. “Pakistan has compelled recognition of its legitimate security concerns while keeping the door open for dialogue.”

The government and armed forces, in a unified message, reaffirmed that while peace remains Pakistan’s preference, the protection of its territorial integrity is non-negotiable.