The second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban concluded on Saturday in Istanbul after nine hours of intensive discussions.
According to diplomatic sources, both sides held detailed deliberations on issues related to border security, counterterrorism, and the safe return of refugees. The talks were described as “constructive and forward-looking,” with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to maintaining peace and stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Officials familiar with the negotiations said the dialogue aimed to address recent tensions and cross-border incidents while seeking mechanisms to enhance cooperation and trust.
The fresh dialogue follows the first round of Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks jointly facilitated by Qatar and Türkiye in Doha on October 18–19.
The meeting came on the heels of days of deadly clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where trade remains suspended, and Pakistani airstrikes on Gul Bahadur group camps inside Afghan territory.
Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib leads the Afghan delegation and includes Anas Haqqani, brother of Afghanistan’s Interior Minister and acting head of the Afghan Embassy in Qatar, along with Noor Ahmad Noor, Noor Rehman Nusrat from the Ministry of Defense, and a representative from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pakistan’s seven-member delegation comprises senior security officials expected to present proposals aimed at curbing cross-border attacks, creating joint monitoring mechanisms, and finalizing a framework to address mutual security and counterterrorism concerns.
Previously, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking to reporters in Sialkot, cautioned that the failure of the peace process would mean “an open war.” He, however, acknowledged signs of progress, noting that “no violent incidents had been reported in the last three to four days.”
“If these talks fail, it will be an open war,” Asif warned. “It may not just be my wishful thinking, but I saw a sense of peace in them.”
‘Ceasefire still holding,’ says Pakistan
Commenting on the talks, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Istanbul round builds on the Doha dialogue, which centered on preventing terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil.
“The basic focus of the Doha talks was to stop terrorist attacks from Afghan soil into Pakistan. To achieve that, there must be a verifiable, empirical mechanism ensuring that the Taliban regime in Kabul takes concrete measures to prevent such incidents,” the spokesperson said.
He noted that the ceasefire agreed upon in Doha “by and large still stands,” calling it a positive outcome. “We are participating in the Istanbul talks with the same sincerity and intent as we did in Doha,” he added, emphasizing Pakistan’s expectation that “Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.”
According to the spokesperson, no major terrorist attack from Afghan territory has been reported in recent days — a sign of “encouraging progress.”
The Istanbul round is widely seen as a decisive opportunity to stabilize Pakistan-Afghanistan relations amid rising border tensions and ongoing security challenges facing both nations.
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