The second round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place today in Istanbul, Turkiye, following their initial meeting in Doha that produced a ceasefire agreement.
During Friday’s briefing, the Foreign Office of Pakistan (FO) confirmed the Istanbul meeting is intended to build on the Doha discussions, with a specific focus on establishing a “concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism” to tackle terrorism emanating from Afghan territory.
Pakistani FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan does not seek escalation but expects the Afghan side — under the Taliban-led authorities — to honour commitments to address legitimate Pakistani security concerns, including threats posed by groups such as the Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
On the border situation, Andrabi reported there have been no major cross-border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan in the past two to three days, a notable improvement following the ceasefire agreed last week. Nonetheless, he stated that the border crossings will remain closed until stability is assured, prioritising Pakistani lives over trade.
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been closed since October 11, after the worst clashes between the two sides since 2021. The current talks are seen as crucial not only for regional peace and stability but also for re-opening trade and relieving humanitarian pressures in the border areas.
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