Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan hopes that the new round of negotiations with Afghanistan, opening today in Istanbul, will lead to the creation of a clear and verifiable system to track the steps taken by the Afghan Taliban to prevent cross-border terrorist attacks.
At his first weekly press conference, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said: “Pakistan expects that the upcoming meeting in Istanbul will lead to the establishment of a concrete and transparent monitoring mechanism to combat terrorist threats emanating from Afghan soil and protect the lives of Pakistani people.”
The meeting in Istanbul comes after the Doha Round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, co-facilitated by Qatar and Turkey on October 18 and 19, which resulted in a permanent ceasefire and an agreement to reconvene in Istanbul to develop a long-term framework for peace and stability.
Andrabi welcomed the Doha agreement, calling it a “first step towards peace in the region.” He noted that the ceasefire has largely been maintained since then and no significant cross-border attacks have been reported.
The Afghan interim government also confirmed its participation. The Afghan delegation led by Mawlawi Rahmatullah Najeeb, deputy interior minister, left Kabul for Istanbul to discuss “outstanding matters” with Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan and Afghanistan extend ceasefire ahead of Doha talks
The Istanbul Round is seen as a transition from temporary calm to an institutionalized peace framework focused on technical-level verification, monitoring and dialogue mechanisms. Turkish officials said discussions will revolve around issues such as terrorism, migration and border management.
While the Doha talks brought a political breakthrough, the Istanbul phase is expected to translate that understanding into operational measures, defining what constitutes cross-border terrorism, how violations will be verified and how disputes will be resolved.
Pakistan is expected to press for firm and time-bound commitments from Kabul to neutralize TTP hideouts, arrest key figures and dismantle safe houses. Proposals include intelligence sharing, real-time cross-border coordination, and monitoring of militant networks and funding channels.
Read more: Guns fall silent: Pakistan and Afghanistan agree on 48-hour ceasefire
Islamabad is also in favor of setting up an external monitoring body, possibly co-chaired by Turkey and Qatar, to review implementation and address cases of non-compliance, Dawn reported.
Other items on the agenda include securing Afghan assurances against harboring hostile groups, improving border security, promoting financial transparency and holding regular review meetings to assess progress.
“The continuation of the ceasefire is evidence of the progress made in Doha,” Andrabi said, expressing optimism that the positive momentum will continue beyond Istanbul.
However, regarding trade relations, the spokesman confirmed that Afghan transit trade remains suspended. “The movement has been stopped for security reasons. The suspension will continue until the situation is reassessed,” he said.
