News Desk
- Negotiations enter third day with no breakthrough reported
- Pakistan demands verifiable action against cross-border militants
- Taliban delegation calls the process “friendly but complex”
- Mediators in Türkiye seek to avert another breakdown
ISLAMABAD: The third round of negotiations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban continued in Istanbul on Monday, with both sides holding intensive discussions but no concrete progress reported so far, according to multiple diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters and Aaj News.
The talks, hosted by Türkiye, are aimed at de-escalating cross-border tensions and addressing Pakistan’s long-standing security concerns over Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens inside Afghanistan. Pakistani negotiators have called for “verifiable and irreversible” measures by the Taliban administration to curb militant infiltration.
A senior Pakistani security official, cited by Business Recorder, said Islamabad had presented its “final position” to the Taliban delegation, warning that “no compromise is possible on our core demands regarding cross-border terrorism.”
In response, a Taliban representative told Reuters that the delegation “does not accept accusations of non-cooperation,” adding that the talks are “continuing in a friendly environment” with the goal of preventing further escalation. Aaj News reported that Kabul’s team has sought assurances from Islamabad to refrain from “airspace violations” and unilateral actions near the border.
The Istanbul dialogue follows the October 19 cease-fire agreement in Doha, reached after a spate of deadly clashes along the frontier. The cease-fire, while largely holding, remains fragile, with analysts telling The Washington Post that the success of the current round hinges on the establishment of a joint monitoring mechanism acceptable to Pakistan.
Sources in Islamabad told Dawn that Pakistan’s participation in the Istanbul talks reflects mounting domestic pressure to secure tangible commitments after what officials call “unfulfilled assurances” from the Taliban leadership in Kabul.
Diplomatic observers in Ankara told Al Jazeera that Türkiye’s facilitation role remains vital in keeping the process on track, with both delegations expected to issue a coordinated statement if consensus is reached before the talks conclude.
Regional analysts quoted by The Guardian warned that any breakdown could trigger renewed military responses by Pakistan along its western frontier, potentially reversing months of cautious engagement since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
