Pakistan, Taliban regime hold third round of talks in Istanbul today amid ceasefire

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The third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government is scheduled to take place in Istanbul today (Thursday), aimed at easing tensions after last month’s deadly border clashes.

The Istanbul meeting follows an earlier five-day negotiation that resulted in a last-minute interim agreement.

The second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government began on October 25 in Istanbul, Turkey. Pakistan broke off the talks after refusing to accept the Taliban delegation’s “illogical” arguments and to address Islamabad’s concerns about cross-border terrorism.

However, mediators convinced Pakistan to give talks another chance, resulting in an agreement to maintain the ceasefire.

At the end of the previous round of talks, a joint statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said all sides had agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to maintain the war and ensure peace, and to punish any violations.

“All parties have agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure the restoration of peace and penalize the offending party.”

A day earlier, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the defense minister said a delegation had left to resume talks with a Taliban government delegation.

“Afghanistan should act wisely for peace in the region… If there is no possibility of progress, it is just a waste of time,” he added.

Earlier this week, DG ISPRLT General Ahmed Sharif, in an informal briefing to journalists, warned that any external aggression against Pakistan would be met with a “firm and severe” response.

DG ISPR told reporters that Pakistan had killed a number of terrorists from across the border, identified as many Afghan nationals, and highlighted the widespread financing of opium cultivation into militancy.

The statement also accused elements in Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militants in Balochistan and using them as human shields to move fighters into urban areas.

After attending the briefing, Geo News anchorperson and senior journalist Hameed Mir said that Chaudhry presented evidence to journalists about the involvement of Afghan Taliban soldiers in terrorism in Pakistan.

Islamabad-Kabul tension

Since the Afghan Taliban government took power in 2021, Pakistan has been witnessing an increase in incidents of terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.

The government in Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to rein in the terrorist groups responsible for countless attacks in Pakistan.

However, the Taliban regime remained largely indifferent to Pakistan’s demands and provided sanctuary to several terrorist groups targeting security forces and civilians.

Instead of addressing Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism, the Taliban government resorted to unprovoked firing along the border on 12 October.

The Pakistan Armed Forces quickly retaliated, killing more than 200 Taliban fighters and associated militants. However, as many as 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the border clashes.

Security forces also launched strikes inside Afghanistan, including Kabul, eliminating terrorist hideouts in the country.

Pakistan ended hostilities between the two countries’ forces on October 17 after accepting the Taliban government’s request for a temporary ceasefire.

Delegations from the two countries later met in Doha for talks mediated by Qatar, where they agreed to a ceasefire agreement.

Turkey then hosted a second round of talks in Istanbul, which began on 25 October and lasted until 31 October.