Islamabad(The COW News Digital)Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are set to resume high-level negotiations in Istanbul today, as Islamabad pushes for concrete assurances regarding an end to cross-border militant attacks originating from Afghan soil. The renewed dialogue comes after previous rounds of talks failed to produce a breakthrough on Pakistan’s key security concerns.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s position ahead of the meeting, stating that negotiations only hold value when there is a realistic chance of progress. “Our stance is clear — attacks launched on Pakistan from Afghan territory must stop,” he said. Asif expressed hope that the Afghan leadership would act wisely for the sake of stability and peace across the region.
This latest diplomatic push follows an earlier round of talks held on October 25, also in Istanbul. That phase of discussions proved lengthy and tense, and ultimately ended without agreement on Pakistan’s demand for decisive action against militant groups operating inside Afghanistan, particularly those targeting Pakistan’s security forces and civilians.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the Afghan Taliban delegation repeatedly paused negotiations to seek directives from leadership in Kabul and Kandahar, which prolonged the talks and created deadlock. Following the stalemate, the Pakistani delegation began preparations to return home. However, they were called back to re-engage after Turkish authorities intervened, requesting both sides to give diplomacy one final chance.
A statement released by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban had agreed on three key confidence-building elements: maintaining a ceasefire, establishing a joint monitoring and verification mechanism, and determining accountability measures for any violations. These steps are expected to guide today’s discussions.
The renewed dialogue comes at a critical time for regional security dynamics. Pakistan has repeatedly warned that continued cross-border attacks by militants sheltering in Afghanistan pose a severe threat to stability. Afghanistan, meanwhile, insists that security challenges within its borders are being managed and that regional cooperation must be based on mutual respect and non-interference.
Analysts say today’s session will test whether both sides are willing to move beyond diplomatic statements and toward enforceable security arrangements. Success may help reduce hostility along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and create space for broader cooperation. Failure, however, risks deepening mistrust and further destabilizing an already fragile regional landscape.
The outcome of today’s talks is expected to shape the next phase of bilateral relations, with both countries under growing pressure to prevent renewed escalation.
