Pakistan warns ceasefire not ‘unlimited’; Istanbul includes ‘interim’ agreement
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid shake hands after signing a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Turkey in Doha on October 19. Photo: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan may have welcomed the agreement reached with Afghanistan in Istanbul mediated by Turkey and Qatar, but officials clarified on Friday that the agreement was “provisional” and the ceasefire was neither unlimited nor unconditional.
According to official sources, key conditions of the agreement include that Afghanistan must not allow its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan; it must take clear, verifiable and effective measures against Fitna al Khwarij (TTP) and other terrorist entities, including Fitna al Hindustan (BLA).
“Credible evidence of actions including dismantling of terrorist hideouts, disruption of logistics channels, arrest or prosecution of leaders, and transparent reporting through monitoring and verification mechanism are awaited,” sources said.
The officials stressed that Afghanistan’s failure to provide verifiable evidence or continued attacks from Afghan soil would be considered a violation of the ceasefire, and Pakistan reserved all options to protect its sovereignty and citizens.
Pakistan entered this phase in “good faith”, but stressed that the truce was conditional and demonstrable accountability was required from the Afghan side.
“Peace is our preference; protection of Pakistan’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable,” the sources said.
After the Istanbul negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi provided further details during a press briefing.
He noted that the Pakistani delegation engaged with the Afghan Taliban regime without compromising on the position that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist purposes against Pakistan.
While substantive discussions were underway, the Taliban acknowledged the presence of TTP and BLA leaders on their territory and offered explanations for their continued existence.
The spokesperson stressed that the monitoring and verification mechanism established under the auspices of the ombudsmen will serve as an impartial tool to monitor compliance with the provisions. Written guarantees are still part of ongoing discussions, with the next round of negotiations scheduled for November 6.
He also stressed that local commanders and military authorities along the border would assess any potential ceasefire violations and respond accordingly. Pakistan has maintained multiple channels of engagement, including a 24/7 helpline for refugee-related issues, underscoring its commitment to peace and protection of its territory.
He also ruled out the immediate reopening of border posts, saying that the situation at this stage does not justify such a decision.
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained closed for almost three weeks.
The sources said the relationship with Afghanistan depends on one thing: how effectively and decisively Kabul responds to Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.
