Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday confirmed that a Pakistani delegation has departed for Istanbul to participate in a new round of talks with the Afghan Taliban, aimed at defusing ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Asif said the negotiations would begin on Thursday morning (Nov 6). “The delegation has gone today, and the talks will start tomorrow. Let’s hope Afghanistan acts wisely and peace is restored in the region,” he stated.
He emphasised that Pakistan’s “single-point agenda” remained unchanged — demanding that Afghanistan prevent attacks launched from its soil against Pakistan. When asked about the prospects of a breakthrough, Asif remarked that dialogue was only pursued when there was a possibility of progress, otherwise “it’s a waste of time.”
Talks Resumed After Stalemate
The latest round of discussions follows earlier talks in Istanbul on October 25, which stalled due to Islamabad’s concerns over cross-border terrorism. The dialogue process was revived after Türkiye and Qatar intervened to mediate, days after Pakistan announced on October 29 that the talks had “failed.”
Sources said the discussions resulted in a three-point understanding: continuation of the ceasefire, establishment of a monitoring and verification mechanism, and penalties for violations. The operational details of this framework are expected to be finalised when senior representatives — referred to as the “principals” — meet again in Istanbul on November 6.
Border Tensions and Ceasefire Efforts
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated in recent weeks amid border clashes and mutual accusations. The escalation began on October 11, when an attack was launched from Afghan territory against Pakistan, following Kabul’s claim that Pakistan had conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan — an allegation Islamabad neither confirmed nor denied.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to prevent militant groups from operating from Afghan soil, while the Taliban have consistently denied these accusations.
Following multiple skirmishes along the border, Islamabad conducted strikes targeting camps belonging to the Gul Bahadur group inside Afghanistan. Subsequent talks in Doha, facilitated by Qatar, led to a temporary ceasefire and an agreement to continue peace discussions in Istanbul.
27th Constitutional Amendment
Separately, Asif declined to share details about the ongoing deliberations over the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying the draft would take its final shape next week before being presented in Parliament.
He added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had every right to voice his opinion on the matter, and the government was consulting all major political parties to reach consensus. However, Asif refrained from commenting on the specific proposed changes.
Diplomatic Role of Türkiye and Qatar
Both Türkiye and Qatar continue to play a significant diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul. Qatar, in particular, has longstanding experience in mediating Afghan-related peace talks, including negotiations between the Taliban and NATO forces.
