ISLAMABAD: Behind closed doors in Istanbul, Pakistan, and the Afghan Taliban have entered one of the most consequential rounds of their ongoing ceasefire dialogue — a tense, high-stakes exchange where Islamabad has adopted a visibly firmer tone.
The in-camera sessions, held under tight security and away from the media, mark a decisive shift from earlier diplomacy, with Pakistan signalling that its patience has run out and that cooperation from Kabul must now be matched with measurable action.
The third round of Pakistan–Afghanistan ceasefire talks entered its second day in Istanbul on Friday, with closed-door discussions continuing at the Conrad Hotel under the mediation of Türkiye and Qatar, following a tense opening session marked by Islamabad’s tougher tone and sharpened demands.
Officials familiar with the negotiations said Pakistan’s delegation, led by Lt Gen Asim Malik, head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) — the country’s premier military intelligence agency — has pressed the Afghan Taliban for verifiable and time-bound guarantees to end cross-border militant attacks. The Afghan side, led by Abdul Haq Waseq, chief of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), is accompanied by senior figures Suhail Shaheen, Anas Haqqani, and Deputy Interior Minister Rehmatullah Najib.
Thursday’s first session: A shift in tone
Official sources said Thursday’s talks began with Pakistan outlining a nine-point agenda, demanding that Kabul take concrete steps to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and create a joint monitoring and verification mechanism. The proposals mark a shift from the softer tone of earlier rounds.
“Islamabad made it clear there will be no more goodwill gestures,” Syed Muhammad Ali, Islamabad-based security analyst, told We News. “Pakistan’s position is now firm — no carrots, only sticks,” he said.
According to officials, Pakistan warned that continued tolerance of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would invite a broader response, including economic and diplomatic pressure on the Taliban government. While Pakistan ruled out military escalation inside Afghanistan, it signalled readiness to restrict trade, repatriate undocumented Afghans, and curb cooperation if the Taliban failed to act.
Key demands tabled
Among Pakistan’s demands are:
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Elimination of militant sanctuaries and a verifiable mechanism to track compliance.
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A public diplomatic declaration from Kabul disassociating itself from the TTP and Baloch insurgents.
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Handing over of Pakistani militants sheltering in Afghanistan.
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Acceptance of third-party verification if bilateral mechanisms falter.
Officials said Pakistan also warned against anti-Pakistan propaganda, accusing certain Afghan factions of running “fake media campaigns” allegedly supported by India. Islamabad emphasized that any facilitation of Pakistan’s enemies would be deemed a hostile act.
Ali said beyond counterterrorism, Pakistan’s message carried economic and social warnings. It hinted at closing border trade and deporting Afghan nationals if militant infiltration persisted.
“Pakistan has been patient long enough,” Ali said. “The goodwill extended since 2021 has been exploited. This time the message is direct, deliberate, and final.”
Drug trade and militant financing
Officials briefed mediators on intelligence linking Afghan narcotics revenue to TTP funding. According to UN data shared during the session, despite reduced poppy cultivation, Afghanistan remains a major producer of opium and is shifting toward synthetic drug labs, complicating interdiction.
Pakistani military assessments indicate that TTP earns up to 10% of its revenue from the narcotics trade, using the proceeds to finance weapons purchases and operations. Islamabad urged the mediators to ensure Kabul acts against drug networks and smuggling cartels that sustain militancy.
Friday’s session: Mediators step in
Mediators from Türkiye and Qatar are expected to hold joint and separate meetings with both delegations on Friday to bridge differences and finalise the draft framework for monitoring and verification.
Diplomats say Türkiye’s intelligence officials have urged restraint, stressing that the fragile ceasefire must hold despite sporadic border incidents.
A Pakistani official said the delegation will remain in Istanbul through the evening to conclude the second day of deliberations, after which a joint communiqué may be issued.
“Pakistan wants peace, but not at the cost of its security,” the official said. “We are ready for cooperation, not complacency.”
Officails said Pakistan’s stance in the Istanbul talks was unequivocal: demand verifiable mechanisms to ensure implementation, press the Afghan regime to act decisively against “Fitna al-Khawarij” or hand over their leaders, and warn that without concrete action any ceasefire will be untenable — forcing Pakistan to consider robust diplomatic measures.
According to these sources, since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, Pakistan has made extensive diplomatic efforts for peace — including multiple high-level visits, over 200 border meetings, and hundreds of formal communications — yet tangible progress from Kabul remains elusive.
Despite five years of these efforts and sacrifices, Pakistan has not received a positive response from Afghanistan. Instead, Afghanistan has become a proxy for India. This conflict of terrorism, Pakistan alleges, has been imposed on Islamabad by a combination of India, elements inside Afghanistan, and the faction known as Fitna al-Khawarij.
In Istanbul, Pakistan’s message was blunt: words alone will not build trust or secure lasting peace — only concrete actions will, officails said.
Pakistan has demanded that the Afghan regime either take direct action against Fitna al-Khawarij inside its territory or hand over the leadership of these groups to Pakistan, because these elements pose a direct threat to the security and stability of Pakistan and the wider region.
