Truce with Kabul Is Conditional, Pakistan Says Istanbul Understanding an “Interim” Step

Pakistan has welcomed the Istanbul understanding with Afghanistan but cautioned the truce is not open ended nor unconditional. Islamabad says Kabul must dismantle militant hideouts, disrupt logistics, arrest leaders and submit transparent reports via a monitoring and verification mechanism before border normalisation can proceed.

ISLAMABAD, November 1, 2025 — Pakistan has stressed that the truce reached with Afghanistan in Istanbul is a temporary, conditional arrangement, not an open-ended peace. While Islamabad welcomed the step toward de-escalation mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, officials made it clear on Friday that concrete, verifiable action by Kabul is required to keep the ceasefire intact.

Foreign Office briefings and senior sources outlined the core expectations Islamabad attached to the Istanbul understanding: Afghanistan must not allow its territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks against Pakistan; it must conduct effective operations against militant groups specifically Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan and must provide credible, verifiable proof of such action.

“Pakistan entered the talks in good faith,” government sources said, “but the truce is conditional and contingent on demonstrable responsibility by the Afghan side.” Officials listed the kinds of evidence Islamabad expects: dismantling of identified hideouts, disruption of insurgent logistic routes, arrest or prosecution of group leadership, and timely, transparent reporting through an agreed monitoring-and-verification mechanism.

Monitoring, verification and enforcement

Islamabad confirmed that mediators will oversee a monitoring-and-verification mechanism designed to independently track compliance and to document any violations. Pakistani authorities said written guarantees and operational details remain under negotiation ahead of the next round of talks scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters that Pakistan engaged with the Taliban delegation without diluting its core demand that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism directed at Pakistan. He said local commanders and border military authorities will assess reported breaches and respond in line with their responsibilities to protect territorial integrity.

Officials emphasized that failure by Kabul to deliver verifiable proof of action or continued attacks from Afghan soil will constitute a violation of the ceasefire, at which point Pakistan will reserve all options to defend its sovereignty and citizens.

Humanitarian and border implications

Despite the Istanbul understanding, Pakistan is not yet reopening border crossings. The frontier has remained closed for almost three weeks, hitting traders and daily cross-border commerce hard. Authorities said the current security environment does not yet permit normalisation of border traffic.

Islamabad also stressed the maintenance of humanitarian channels: a 24/7 hotline has been set up to manage refugee-related concerns and to coordinate on urgent civilian issues, reflecting a simultaneous emphasis on protecting civilians while securing the border.

Stakes and next steps

Diplomats and security officials said Pakistan’s relationship with Kabul now hinges on a single, decisive metric how effectively and transparently Kabul addresses Islamabad’s security demands. The November 6 talks will therefore be closely watched: mediators and both delegations are expected to firm up verification procedures and possibly agree timelines for specific actions.

For now, Pakistan’s posture is one of cautious engagement: it supports diplomacy and a durable ceasefire but is clear that peace must be verifiable. “Peace is our preference; protection of Pakistan’s territorial integrity is non negotiable,” officials reiterated a formulation that sums up Islamabad’s expectation that de-escalation must be backed by credible, enforceable steps on the ground.