The second phase of discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan began in Istanbul on Saturday, with Islamabad aiming to establish a clear and verifiable mechanism to monitor the actions of the Afghan Taliban and prevent cross-border terrorist incidents.
This meeting follows the first round of dialogue held in Doha on October 18–19, which was jointly facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye.
The Doha talks took place after intense clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border — an area where trade still remains suspended — and after Islamabad carried out strikes on the Gul Bahadur group’s bases inside Afghanistan. The agreement reached in Doha resulted in extending a temporary 48-hour ceasefire into a lasting truce and included a pledge to reconvene in Istanbul to create frameworks for durable peace and stability.
According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, Afghan interim administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the Afghan delegation would be led by Mawlawi Rahmatullah Najeeb, Deputy Minister of Interior.
“The remaining issues with Pakistan will be discussed in the upcoming meeting,” Mujahid wrote on X last night, adding that the Afghan team had departed from Kabul for Istanbul.
Pakistan’s new Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, stated during his first media briefing that Islamabad expects the Istanbul round — hosted by Turkiye on October 25, 2025 — to produce a “credible and verifiable monitoring system” to curb terrorism originating from Afghan soil and to safeguard Pakistani lives.
Essentially, the Doha session achieved a political breakthrough, while the Istanbul round is expected to operationalize it — by determining what qualifies as cross-border terrorism, how any violations will be verified, and how disputes can be addressed.
The Istanbul meeting offers an opportunity to move from a temporary calm towards a long-term, structured peace framework supported by monitoring, verification, and sustained engagement through technical committees.
Turkish officials have hinted that a technical team in Istanbul will review key details of the ceasefire, including terrorism, migration, and border security issues.
At today’s session, Pakistan is expected to demand firm and verifiable commitments from Kabul to eliminate the threat posed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad claims operates from Afghan territory to conduct attacks across the border.
The agenda includes dismantling known TTP bases, arresting or expelling senior leaders, and setting clear timelines for measurable steps such as raids, detentions, and destruction of hideouts.
To ensure these commitments are enforced, Pakistan is expected to propose mechanisms for intelligence sharing, cross-border coordination, and real-time tracking of militant activity and financing.
Islamabad also supports creating a third-party monitoring structure — potentially co-chaired by Turkiye and Qatar — to verify compliance and resolve disputes in case of non-cooperation.
Other priorities on Pakistan’s list include obtaining Afghan guarantees against offering sanctuary to hostile groups, improving border management, ensuring financial transparency related to militant funding, and holding regular review meetings to evaluate progress.
According to the Foreign Office, the ceasefire established in Doha has largely held so far, with no major terrorist incidents reported.
“We are participating in the Istanbul talks with the same sincerity of purpose and intent as we showed in Doha,” Andrabi emphasized on Friday.
He noted that the primary focus in Doha had been to stop cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghan territory, which required a reliable and evidence-based mechanism to confirm that the Taliban administration in Kabul was taking concrete steps to prevent such attacks.
He further stated that the continuation of the ceasefire reflects the positive results achieved in Doha. “The Doha negotiations were indeed productive, and we hope to maintain this positive momentum through the Istanbul round and beyond,” Andrabi added.
Khawaja Asif Warns of Possible ‘Open War’ if Talks Collapse
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that failure to reach an understanding in Istanbul could lead to “open war,” although he acknowledged that Afghanistan seems inclined towards peace.
Asif mentioned that no significant incidents had occurred in the four or five days since the ceasefire was implemented, suggesting that both sides were adhering to the truce.
“If no agreement is reached, then we face an open conflict,” he cautioned, adding, “But I believe they genuinely desire peace.”
Turkiye Seen as a Trusted Mediator
Turkiye’s extensive counterterrorism experience against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its familiarity with insurgent movements along porous borders lend it both credibility and practical expertise in mediating Pakistan’s concerns regarding TTP safe havens in Afghanistan.
Ankara’s involvement is further reinforced by its longstanding security cooperation with Pakistan, including prior consultations earlier this year.
For Islamabad, Turkiye represents a dependable ally capable of crafting a mutually trusted framework — one that transitions peace efforts from sporadic diplomatic gestures to an institutionalized peace-building process.
Analyst Views
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst at the International Crisis Group focusing on Afghanistan, described the Istanbul meeting as “highly significant.” Speaking to AFP, he explained that the proposed monitoring arrangements might involve intelligence exchange on militant groups.
“For instance, Pakistan could share coordinates of suspected TTP fighters or leaders, and instead of launching strikes, Afghanistan would be expected to take direct action,” Bahiss said.
However, he expressed doubt about whether such mechanisms would fully address the deeper causes of ongoing tensions. “I remain skeptical that a purely technical arrangement can resolve the fundamental drivers of this escalation,” he concluded.