Islamabad seeks binding mechanism to counter cross-border terror threats originating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has handed over a comprehensive counterterrorism roadmap to the Afghan Taliban during the second round of bilateral talks in Istanbul, diplomatic sources confirmed. The discussions, which took place on Saturday, are part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to establish a binding and verifiable mechanism aimed at curbing cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory.
This Istanbul round follows earlier negotiations held in Doha on October 19, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, where both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. However, border trade between the two countries remains suspended. The Afghan delegation was led by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib, while Pakistan was represented by senior diplomatic and security officials.
Pakistan Stresses Need for Verifiable Counterterrorism Mechanism
During his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi emphasized Pakistan’s expectation that the Istanbul talks would produce a “concrete and verifiable monitoring framework” to combat terrorism directed at Pakistan from Afghan soil. He reiterated that Pakistan, as a responsible regional actor, is committed to peace and stability and does not seek escalation.
“Pakistan urges the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their commitments to the international community and take verifiable action against terrorist entities such as the FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” Andrabi stated. He termed the Doha round a “significant first step” toward achieving regional stability, highlighting that the talks centered on halting cross-border attacks and restoring peace along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Andrabi also confirmed that no major terrorist incidents from Afghan soil had occurred in Pakistan over the past few days, describing this as a “positive outcome” of the initial discussions. He further noted that border crossings with Afghanistan would remain closed due to ongoing security threats, stressing that “protecting Pakistani lives is more important than the movement of goods.”
Defence Minister Warns of ‘All-Out War’ if Talks Collapse
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stern warning that Pakistan could resort to “all-out war” if the peace talks failed to deliver results. Speaking to reporters in Sialkot, Asif expressed optimism that the final outcome of the negotiations would become clear soon, noting that 80% of the agreements reached in Doha were already being implemented.
The minister accused India of waging a proxy war against Pakistan through the Afghan Taliban, asserting that “the Afghans are acting against us as India’s proxy.” Despite the tension, Asif voiced hope for a lasting peace agreement, recalling that he sensed a genuine “urge for peace” during the earlier Doha negotiations.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has remained closed since October 11, following deadly clashes that killed dozens on both sides — the most severe fighting since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. The recent ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and Turkiye, continues to hold, though cross-border trade remains suspended pending progress in the Istanbul talks.
