The reference to a defined time window suggests Islamabad is seeking early indicators of change, rather than open-ended assurances. For now, both sides appear to be calibrating their approach, avoiding escalation in public, welcoming conciliatory language, and allowing religious actors to play a mediating role.
Whether this softer tone translates into concrete action on the ground remains uncertain. Still, the recent exchange of statements marks a departure from the sharp rhetoric that has characterised much of the past year, offering a narrow opening for engagement at a time when both Islamabad and Kabul face mounting internal and regional pressures.
