ISLAMABAD: The second round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan began in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on transforming the fragile ceasefire achieved in Doha into a durable framework for peace and border security.
The discussions — facilitated by Türkiye and Qatar — follow the Doha round of October 18–19, which led to a temporary truce and a mutual pledge to develop a long-term mechanism for cooperation. Pakistani officials say the ceasefire has largely held, a sign that diplomatic engagement is yielding results.
“Negotiations resumed today with the support of our friendly countries, Qatar and Turkey, who are making very sincere efforts. Once there is an outcome, an agreement will be drawn up. The talks are expected to conclude this evening or by tomorrow,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters in Sialkot.
Khawaja Asif said that no major incident had occurred since the Doha talks, noting that the 14 to 15 hours of discussions there convinced him that the Afghan side also desired peace. He said Pakistan had hosted Afghans for four decades, during which several generations grew up in Pakistan.
“The very people we met in Doha had spent their lives here,” he said, adding that it was deeply painful to see any of them supporting violence against Pakistan despite such longstanding hospitality. Asif emphasized that Pakistan still wished to live with Afghanistan as a peaceful neighbour, based on mutual respect and coexistence.
Pakistan Emphasises Security and Verification
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to peace, saying the talks’ primary goal is to ensure a verifiable system that prevents attacks from Afghan territory.
“The basic focus is to stop the terrorist attacks from Afghan soil into Pakistan,” Andrabi said. “We want a verifiable, empirical mechanism to ascertain that the Taliban regime in Kabul is taking concrete actions to stop such attacks.”
He noted that the ceasefire reached in Doha “has, by and large, held,” with no major cross-border assaults in recent days — a development Pakistani officials attribute to their consistent diplomatic efforts.
Afghan Delegation Joins with Turkish and Qatari Facilitation
The Afghan delegation, led by Deputy Interior Minister Mawlawi Rahmatullah Mujib, arrived in Istanbul to continue talks under the Doha framework. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed participation, saying discussions will focus on “remaining issues” between the two sides.
Turkish mediators said the Istanbul session will evaluate mechanisms for counterterrorism cooperation, border management, and refugee coordination — areas Pakistan has long sought to institutionalise.
Pakistan Pushes for Accountability and Oversight
In Istanbul, Pakistan is pressing for verifiable action against the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) network operating from Afghan soil. The agenda includes dismantling militant sanctuaries, expelling key commanders, and setting clear timelines for arrests and neutralisation operations.
Pakistan has also proposed a joint oversight body, co-chaired by Türkiye and Qatar, to ensure compliance and transparency. The mechanism would monitor cross-border movements, track militant financing, and facilitate real-time intelligence sharing — all priorities long advocated by Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Consistent Efforts for Regional Peace
Officials say Pakistan’s approach reflects its “consistent and responsible” policy of promoting regional peace and countering terrorism through dialogue rather than confrontation. The government has repeatedly emphasised that stability in Afghanistan directly affects Pakistan’s security and economic progress.
The Istanbul talks are expected to pave the way for deeper cooperation on counterterrorism, trade, and border control — reinforcing Pakistan’s role as a key regional stabiliser seeking a peaceful, secure frontier.
