NATIONAL DESK
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government are scheduled to hold the second round of bilateral talks in Istanbul on Saturday, with discussions expected to focus on finalizing a post-ceasefire mechanism** to monitor cross-border militancy.
The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that no major terrorist incidents have been reported from Afghan soil in recent days — a development officials describe as a positive result of the Doha agreement concluded earlier this week.
At his first weekly press briefing, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that the ceasefire reached in Doha “has largely held,” noting that Pakistan has not witnessed any significant cross-border attacks in the last few days.
“The Doha talks have yielded encouraging results. We hope this positive momentum continues in Istanbul and beyond,” Andrabi remarked.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s principal demand remains consistent — Afghan territory must not be used for attacks against Pakistan.
Andrabi further revealed that the Doha ceasefire was the outcome of delegation-level meetings led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, centered on tackling cross-border terrorism and promoting lasting border peace.
He also confirmed that the Afghan transit trade remains suspended until security conditions improve.
“Our border posts linked to the Afghan transit trade have come under attack, resulting in the loss of Pakistani lives. The safety of our citizens takes precedence over trade,” Andrabi said, emphasizing that national security outweighs economic interests.
The Istanbul round of talks, hosted by Türkiye, aims to set up a joint monitoring framework to ensure the ceasefire’s implementation and prevent future violations.
While Andrabi did not disclose who will lead Pakistan’s delegation, he stated that Islamabad would participate “with sincerity and seriousness.”
“Pakistan’s position is straightforward — we want peaceful, cooperative ties. Our only request to Kabul is that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorism against us,” he added.
In Kabul, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that discussions in Istanbul will focus on maintaining the ceasefire and developing a reliable, verifiable monitoring system.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has accused Pakistan of fueling tensions but acknowledged that both the United Kingdom and China have welcomed the ceasefire initiative. Afghan media reported that UK envoy Richard Lindsay and China’s representative Yu Xiaoying have encouraged both sides to sustain dialogue and work toward a permanent peace agreement.
Responding to a question about the Taliban’s reported plan to build a dam on the Kunar River, Andrabi said Islamabad was examining the matter under international water laws, adding: “Pakistan is both an upstream and downstream country — we will address the issue accordingly.”
The spokesperson also highlighted the visit of Poland’s Foreign Minister to Islamabad earlier this week, during which the two countries signed two memorandums of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Reiterating Pakistan’s support for Palestine, Andrabi noted that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has now issued its fourth advisory opinion against Israel since January 2024.
He further mentioned that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had recently engaged in diplomatic discussions with his counterparts from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco, reflecting Islamabad’s continued diplomatic outreach amid ongoing regional tensions.
