The second round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue in Istanbul has ended with a note to resume the process from November 6.
Crucial negotiations took place in Istanbul between delegations from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. The primary objective of these talks was to achieve progress on Pakistan’s core demand, revolving around ending the cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. Islamabad wants decisive actions from the Interim Taliban regime against India-backed terrorist groups, particularly Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP) and Fitna al-Hindustan (BLA). Despite many ups and downs, talks have concluded with an agreement to continue the ceasefire and establish a mechanism to monitor it. The third meeting scheduled on November 6 is aimed at finalising the implementation details. Extension of the temporary ceasefire, originally agreed upon in Doha on October 19, 2025, seems very encouraging and radiated strong vibes of hope. At several points, the negotiations stalled due to the unreasonable conduct of the Taliban delegation. Ironically, Afghanistan has consistently denied harbouring terrorists and, in turn, has accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through airstrikes and allegedly allowing a third country to use its airspace for drone operations.
The ball is in the court of the Afghan Taliban.
Until 30th October, it seemed that no conclusive outcome would be reached, and the Pakistani delegation had begun preparing to return. However, at the request of the host nations, Türkiye and Qatar, following an appeal from the Afghan Taliban delegation, Pakistan agreed to give peace another chance and resumed the dialogue process. During the last session, both sides reached an interim mutual understanding on the following cardinal points. One, it was mutually agreed by the stakeholders that the talks were held with the intent to solidify the ceasefire agreed upon in Doha. Two, all parties reaffirmed that the ceasefire would remain conditional with the assurance that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan. This puts the onus of responsibility on the shoulders of the Afghan Taliban for taking clear, verifiable, and effective actions against terrorist groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP) and Fitna al-Hindustan (BLA). Three, the next round of talks scheduled with effect from November 6 will focus on finalisation of specific details about verifiable implementation of counter terror actions of the interim Taliban regime. Four: The Joint Monitoring and Verification Mechanism will be established to ensure peace and to hold any violating party accountable through appropriate penalties. As per available reports, the Pakistani delegation remained firm and principled and adopted an evidence-based stance. The diplomatic excellence of Pakistan and the effective role of both friendly mediators compelled the reluctant Afghan Taliban to enter into an interim agreement. Diplomatic sources indicate that deep mistrust persists between the two sides, and the current agreement is seen as a framework for peace rather than a final resolution. This interim progress should be recognised as a positive milestone not only for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan but also for regional peace, stability, and mutual security. The growing linkage between the Afghan Taliban and New Delhi is a natural point of concern for Pakistan. Irresponsible accusatory statements of Mullah Mutaqi and the timing of coordinated border attacks from Afghanistan have reflected very badly on the bilateral ties of Kabul and Islamabad. Followed by surging terrorism and an undeniable linkage with banned anti-Pakistan outfits(TTP- BLA), the Afghan Taliban have stamped their questionable intentions towards Pakistan by joining the Indian chorus. Pakistan has sent multiple firm messages showing zero tolerance for any form of cross-border terrorism, vis-à-vis no compromise on the security of citizens. The success of the next high-level meeting on November 6 will be crucial for the durability of the ceasefire and the establishment of a lasting peace mechanism. The ball is in the court of the Afghan Taliban. Let’s see how the unelected regime moves forward on the sensitive issue of cross-border terrorism against Pakistan.
The writer is a freelance contributor based in Islamabad.