Pakistan rejects Kabul’s misrepresentation of facts on Istanbul talks

Pakistan dismissed claims allegedly made by the Afghan government suggesting that Islamabad had rejected Kabul’s proposal to repatriate Pakistani citizens.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said Pakistan “rejects the deliberate misrepresentation of facts” attributed to the Afghan spokesperson regarding the recent Istanbul talks.

The ministry clarified that during the talks, Pakistan had demanded action against terrorists operating from Afghanistan and posing a threat to Pakistan. “When the Afghan side claimed that these individuals were Pakistani nationals, Pakistan immediately proposed that they be handed over through designated border posts, in line with Pakistan’s long-standing position,” the statement read.

“Any statement to the contrary is false and misleading,” the ministry added.

Pakistan rejects the deliberate misrepresentation of facts attributed to the Afghan spokesperson regarding the Istanbul talks.

Pakistan had demanded that terrorists in Afghanistan who posed a threat to Pakistan be controlled or arrested.

The rebuttal came after a Kabul-based media outlet published on

The war of words came against the backdrop of ceasefire talks in Doha, where Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban reached a tentative understanding on Thursday after six days of high-level talks in Istanbul.

Read: Pakistan and Afghan Taliban reach provisional understanding in Istanbul talks

The objective was to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan and to take decisive action against the Indian-backed militant groups, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which Pakistani officials refer to as ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ and ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’.

The dialogue appeared to stall several times over the past week, with the Pakistani delegation even preparing to return home without making any progress. However, following requests from the host nations (Turkiye and Qatar) and an appeal from the Afghan Taliban delegation, Pakistan agreed to continue negotiations “to give peace another chance.”

During Thursday’s session, both sides reached a provisional mutual understanding, the key points of which are outlined below:

1. All parties reaffirmed that the aim of the talks was to reinforce the ceasefire originally agreed in Doha.

2. Both sides committed to maintaining the ceasefire on the condition that Afghan territory is not used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan. The agreement also requires the Afghan Taliban to take “clear, verifiable and effective measures” against groups such as Fitna al Khwarij (TTP) and Fitna al Hindustan (BLA).

3. The next round of talks will be held in Istanbul on November 6 to finalize details and implementation mechanisms.

4. A joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to ensure compliance and impose sanctions on any party violating the agreement.

5. Turkiye and Qatar, acting as mediators and hosts, commended both sides for their participation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting lasting peace and stability in the region.

Read also: The truce with Kabul comes with caveats

During the talks, the Pakistani delegation maintained a firm, evidence-based stance, presenting its demands with “clarity, professionalism and logical coherence.” The final agreement was described as a “victory of reason and the national interest.”

The provisional outcome of the talks is a positive step towards regional stability and a historic achievement despite adversaries’ attempts to derail the process through propaganda and pressure.

Pakistan’s participation in the Istanbul talks, marked by “seriousness, prudence and national dignity”, has been widely appreciated. He also credited mediation efforts by Turkiye and Qatar for helping achieve the breakthrough.

The government reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to the pursuit of peace but will not compromise its sovereignty, national interest or public safety. The civil and military leaders reaffirmed unity and determination to counter all internal and external threats to the country’s stability.