Pakistan has agreed to restart dialogue with the Afghan Taliban regime in Istanbul following mediation efforts by Turkiye, officials confirmed on Thursday. The decision comes after earlier rounds of talks between Islamabad and Kabul ended without any breakthrough, prompting both sides to reconsider diplomatic options.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Pakistan’s delegation, which had been preparing to return home after the collapse of previous negotiations, decided to extend its stay in Istanbul to continue discussions. The renewed engagement, officials said, is aimed at “giving peace another chance” amid growing cross-border tensions.
Talks to Focus on Counterterrorism Measures
The discussions are expected to focus on Pakistan’s core demand that Afghanistan take “clear, verifiable, and effective action” against terrorist networks operating from its territory.
Earlier, dialogue efforts faltered when the Taliban side reportedly declined to offer verifiable guarantees that Afghan soil would not be used by groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to carry out attacks.
Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns over cross-border terrorism and called on the Taliban administration to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for violence against Pakistan.
Earlier Round Ended Without Progress
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Wednesday that the four-day round of talks in Istanbul concluded without progress, despite Pakistan presenting detailed evidence-backed counterterrorism proposals.
“The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution,” Tarar stated on X (formerly Twitter). He added that Pakistan had consistently sought Kabul’s cooperation in curbing militant activities and appreciated the “sincere mediation efforts” of Turkiye, Qatar, and other friendly nations in promoting peace.
Defence Minister Issues Warning to Taliban
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, meanwhile, cautioned that Pakistan would not hesitate to carry out airstrikes inside Afghanistan if militants continued using its soil for attacks.
In a post on X, Asif said Pakistan engaged in dialogue at the request of “brotherly countries” to give peace another chance, but “venomous statements” by certain Afghan officials reflected a “devious and splintered mindset.”
“We have borne your treachery and mockery for too long, but no more. Any terrorist attack or any suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures,” he warned.
Asif added, “Let me assure them that Pakistan does not require employing even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime and push them back to the caves for hiding. If they wish so, the repeat of the scenes of their rout at Tora Bora with their tails between the legs would surely be a spectacle to watch for the people of the region.”
He further accused the Taliban of dragging Afghanistan into yet another conflict to sustain its “war economy.”
Rising Tensions Since 2021
Pakistan has experienced a surge in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul in 2021. The government has repeatedly urged the regime to act decisively against groups involved in attacks inside Pakistan.
Following unprovoked firing along the border on October 12, Pakistan’s forces retaliated, killing over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, though 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred. A temporary ceasefire was later reached on October 17 at the Taliban regime’s request.
Subsequent meetings, first in Doha under Qatar’s mediation and later in Istanbul hosted by Turkiye, sought to stabilise relations and prevent further escalation. While earlier sessions ended without success, Pakistan’s latest decision to resume dialogue in Istanbul marks another attempt to resolve tensions through diplomacy while maintaining a firm stance on national security.
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