- Istanbul round seeks to operationalise Doha ceasefire through concrete monitoring framework
- Pakistan pushes Afghan Taliban for time-bound, verifiable action against TTP sanctuaries
- Khawaja Asif warns of ‘open war’ if peace initiative collapses
ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL: A crucial second round of Pakistan–Afghanistan talks opened in Istanbul on Saturday, with Islamabad pushing for the establishment of a “concrete and verifiable” monitoring mechanism to ensure the Afghan Taliban’s compliance in curbing cross-border terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil.
The discussions, co-facilitated by Turkiye and Qatar, build on the political breakthrough achieved in Doha earlier this month (Oct 18–19), when both sides agreed to a permanent ceasefire, following days of border skirmishes, Pakistani airstrikes on Hafiz Gul Bahar group hideouts in Afghanistan, and the temporary closure of bilateral trade routes.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, in his maiden media briefing on Friday, said Islamabad was entering the Istanbul round with “the same sincerity of intent” shown in Doha but now sought a verifiable framework to prevent further violence.
“Pakistan looks forward to the establishment of a concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism … to address the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil and prevent any further loss of life of Pakistanis,” Andrabi said.
According to Afghan interim government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan delegation is led by Mullah Rahmatullah Najeeb, deputy minister of interior. He confirmed the delegation departed Kabul for Istanbul on Friday night, saying the “remaining issues with Pakistan will be discussed” in this round.
د اسلامي امارت لخوا له پاکستاني اړخ سره د څو ورځې وړاندې دوحې د توافقنامې په تعقیب د کورنیو چارو وزارت مرستیال محترم حاجي نجیب په مشرۍ یو هیئت ترکیې ته روان شو.
په دې ناسته کې به د باقې پاتې مسائلو په اړه خبرې اترې کیږي.— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 24, 2025
Islamabad has not disclosed details about its delegation or the duration of the Istanbul talks, which are being hosted at an undisclosed location in Turkey’s largest city.
Turning political breakthrough into operational framework
While Doha produced the initial truce, the Istanbul round aims to operationalize it—defining what constitutes cross-border terrorism, setting out procedures for verification, and crafting a technical mechanism for sustained peace and accountability.
Turkish officials said a technical committee will review implementation details related to counterterrorism, migration control, and border management.
Pakistan is expected to press for tangible Afghan commitments to dismantle sanctuaries of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), arrest or expel key figures, and share intelligence in real time. Islamabad is also proposing joint oversight mechanisms, potentially co-chaired by Turkiye and Qatar, to verify progress and address non-compliance.
The agenda reportedly includes timelines for measurable action—such as targeted raids, arrests, and destruction of militant hideouts—along with cross-border coordination, information exchange, and financial transparency regarding militant funding.
Ceasefire holds amid cautious optimism
According to the Foreign Office, the Doha truce has largely held, with no major terrorist attacks reported in recent days — a development seen as an encouraging sign for confidence-building.
“During the Doha talks, the basic focus was to stop terrorist attacks from Afghan soil into Pakistan,” Andrabi said. “We now need a verifiable, empirical mechanism to ascertain that the Taliban regime in Kabul is taking concrete actions to stop such attacks.”
He added that Pakistan hoped to see the “fruitful Doha momentum” continue in Istanbul and beyond.
Defence Minister warns of “open war” if talks fail
In a stark warning, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that while Afghanistan “wants peace,” failure to reach an understanding in Istanbul could push the two neighbours toward confrontation.
“We have the option; if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Asif said, though he added, “I saw that they want peace.”
He confirmed that both sides have complied with the truce for the past several days, and that Islamabad remained hopeful of a peaceful resolution.
Turkiye’s pivotal role
Turkiye’s role as host and mediator stems from its deep counterterrorism experience against the PKK and its historical partnership with Pakistan on security and intelligence matters.
Ankara’s credibility, combined with its ties to both Islamabad and Kabul, positions it as a trusted facilitator capable of transforming the ad hoc peace efforts into a structured, institutionalised dialogue process.
Experts urge caution
Regional observers have termed the Istanbul meeting “essential” for long-term stability but cautioned against overexpectation.
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the new monitoring mechanisms could involve intelligence sharing and on-the-ground verification.
“For example, Pakistan would give coordinates of where they suspect TTP fighters or commanders are, and instead of carrying out strikes, Afghanistan would be expected to act against them,” Bahiss told AFP.
However, he added, the fundamental drivers of the cross-border escalation may not be fully resolved through technical arrangements alone.
“I’m not so hopeful that a technical mechanism will really address the underlying causes of this cycle,” Bahiss cautioned.
Moving from calm to credibility
For Pakistan, the Istanbul dialogue is a litmus test—to see whether temporary calm can evolve into a structured, verifiable peace. With Turkiye and Qatar in the loop, Islamabad hopes to shift from ceasefire diplomacy to institutional counterterror cooperation, turning fragile truce lines into durable peace corridors across the Pak-Afghan frontier.
