ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan’s delegation has left for Istanbul to participate in the next round of talks with the Afghan Taliban regime aimed at easing ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
The talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan will resume on November 06, tomorrow, following a truce reached on October 30 after cross-border hostilities.
The second round of talks started in Istanbul on October 25 after days of border clashes, but Islamabad’s long-standing concerns about terrorist attacks from Kabul remained, which led to the failure of talks.
On October 29, Pakistan announced the end of talks and its negotiators were preparing to return home, but, over Turkiye and Qatar’s request, they stayed.
Later the next day, Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry announced that both countries had agreed to maintain a “ceasefire”, adding that “both countries will meet again on Nov 6 to discuss additional provisions for implementing the ceasefire.”
Talking to the reporters outside Parliament House today, Asif said that the “delegation has departed today and the negotiations will begin tomorrow morning. Let’s hope Afghanistan will act wisely so that peace can return to the region.”
He said that Pakistan’s agenda consists of only one point that “Afghanistan should take effective measures to prevent attacks on Pakistan from its soil.”
When asked if there is hope for positive progress, Khawaja Asif said that talks are held only when there is a possibility of progress; otherwise, they are a waste of time.
The earlier meetings led to a three-point understanding: maintaining the ceasefire, establishing a monitoring and verification mechanism to uphold peace, and imposing penalties for violations.
The past few weeks have seen a sharp escalation in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with border clashes, counter-statements, and accusations. The tensions began on the night of October 11, when Afghanistan and militants attacked Pakistan from across the border.
The two countries eventually met in Doha for talks a few days later, where a temporary ceasefire was agreed, and it was agreed that further talks for lasting peace and stability would continue in Istanbul.
Islamabad has long demanded that the Taliban regime prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, an allegation which the Taliban rejects, saying they do not allow terrorists to use their territory.
