The second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban will be held in Istanbul tomorrow as scheduled, with Pakistan expected to emphasize the need to eliminate terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, official sources confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the sources, both sides are set to convene in Istanbul for the second phase of negotiations aimed at finalizing the mechanism for implementing the ceasefire agreed upon earlier. The discussions are expected to focus on ensuring lasting peace along the shared border and preventing future violations.
Sources said that Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will depart for Istanbul if the Afghan delegation includes a senior minister. The final decision regarding the composition and leadership of Pakistan’s delegation will depend on the seniority level of the Afghan team. The delegation will also include the National Security Adviser and other senior officials.
Pakistan will convey a clear message during the talks that Afghan territory must not be allowed to be used for any form of terrorism against Pakistan, the sources added. It may be recalled that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, under the mediation of Türkiye and Qatar, had earlier agreed in Istanbul to maintain a ceasefire and establish a verification mechanism to monitor compliance. The system would have the authority to impose penalties on any party found responsible for violating the truce.
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated on October 11 when attacks were carried out on the Pakistani border from the Afghan side, following accusations by the Taliban of Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Subsequently, a ceasefire agreement was reached in Doha on October 19, after which both sides, through the efforts of Türkiye and Qatar, returned to the negotiating table.
The upcoming second round of the Istanbul talks is expected to finalize the terms and framework of the ceasefire, paving the way for the restoration of border stability and lasting peace between the two countries.
