Following a ceasefire agreement last week, Pakistan and the Afghan regime are set to begin the next round of talks in Istanbul today, on Thursday. The renewed dialogue aims to ease escalating tensions triggered by last month’s border clashes.
The second round of talks between Ahmadinejad and Pakistan began on October 25 in Istanbul. The talks were met with multiple roadblocks as Pakistan refused to accept the Taliban delegation’s argument and their reluctance to address the concerns of Islamabad regarding the cross-border terrorism.
Mediators- Turkey and Qatar persuaded Pakistan to give talks and ceasefire another chance, which ultimately resulted in a last-minute ceasefire agreement between the countries.
The second round of talks had resulted in a mutual agreement to extend the ceasefire and to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace and penalize any violations.
At the end of the second round of negotiations, all parties reaffirmed that the purpose of the talk was to reinforce the ceasefire originally agreed upon in Doha, whereas both sides maintained that to would continue the ceasefire on the condition that Afghan territory would not be used for cross-border terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
The understanding also calls on the Afghan Taliban to take decisive, clear, and verifiable action against groups such as Fitna al-Khawraj TTP and Fitna al-Hindustan BLA. It is also agreed upon that the next round of talks will be held in Istanbul on November 6 to finalize details and an implementation mechanism.
Turkey and Qatar, as mediators of the negotiations, praised both sides for their willingness and participation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting lasting peace and stability in the region.
“All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and impose a penalty on the violating party,” said the joint statement released by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, commenting on the development, said, “Just as the Islamic emirate seeks good relations with other neighbouring countries, it also desires positive ties with Pakistan and remains committed to relations based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and not posing a threat to any side.”
During the negotiations, Pakistan stood firm on its principal demand that Afghanistan should take clear, verifiable, and decisive actions against the TTP hideouts and other terrorist groups involved in orchestrating attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil.
Last week, addressing the press conference, the spokesperson of Pakistan Army, DG ISPR Lt. Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, said that conditions set by Afghanistan have no significance for Pakistan, as only the elimination of terrorism matters to the country.
“In Istanbul, the Afghan Taliban were clearly told that they need to control terrorism,” Lt Gen Chaudhry stated. “How they do it is their job. We conducted a counter-terrorism operation, and the terrorists fled to Afghanistan. Hand them over, we’ll deal with them according to the Constitution and the law.
“There will be no talks with terrorists, and Pakistan gave the Afghan Taliban a befitting response, which yielded the results we wanted.”
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“The TTP has pledged allegiance in the name of the emir of the Afghan Taliban,” Lt Gen Chaudhry stated.
Alhamdulillah..
Pakistan & Afghanistan agreed at a round of negotiations held in Doha under Qatari & Turkish mediation on an immediate ceasefire & the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace & stability between the two countries.This is how things should be… pic.twitter.com/lcqTVOWSk7
— د.عـبدالله العـمـادي (@Abdulla_Alamadi) October 19, 2025
The latest round of talks is expected to be led by the intelligence chiefs of both countries on November 6th, in Istanbul, Turkiye.
The Pakistani delegation is being led by Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, who left for Istanbul on Wednesday, according to security sources. Meanwhile, the Afghan delegation is also led by Intelligence Chief Abdul Haq Wasik. The delegation also includes Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib of Afghanistan, Foreign Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi, and Sina Taliban leaders Sohail Shaheen and Anas Haqqani.
The upcoming round of talks is expected to focus on counter-terrorism cooperation, border management, and mechanisms to prevent further escalations along the Pak-Afghan border. Trade between the two countries has remained suspended since last month’s border clashes. Both sides recognize that addressing terrorism is crucial to restoring cross-border trade and stability. Pakistan has also cautioned that any future attacks on its security forces originating from Afghan territory will be considered a violation of the ceasefire agreement.