The second round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkiye, today (Saturday), as both sides aim to review and build upon issues discussed during the first phase in Doha, Qatar, according to the Foreign Office (FO). Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the Istanbul talks are a continuation of the initial round, which successfully led to a ceasefire between the neighbouring countries. He emphasized that Pakistan seeks a concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism to tackle terrorism originating from Afghan soil. “And as a responsible nation committed to regional peace and stability, Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban authorities to fulfill their obligations to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by acting against terrorist groups including FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” he added. Andrabi described the Doha talks as a foundational step toward lasting regional peace and stability, noting that immediate measures were discussed to end cross-border terrorism and restore security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He further mentioned that no major terrorist incidents from Afghan soil have been reported in Pakistan over the past two to three days, marking a positive outcome of the first round. The spokesperson also stated that border crossings with Afghanistan will remain closed due to security concerns, emphasizing that the protection of Pakistani lives takes precedence over trade and goods movement. Border crossings between the two countries have remained closed since October 11, following clashes earlier this month that killed dozens on both sides in the worst fighting since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. The border clashes were triggered after Islamabad demanded that Kabul control militants who attack Pakistan across their shared border, saying they operated from havens in Afghanistan. A ceasefire was agreed in talks hosted by Qatar and Turkiye last weekend and is holding between the two sides, but the border trade remains suspended.
Pakistan-Afghanistan second round of talks kicks off in Istanbul today
