Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid shake hands after signing a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Turkey in Doha on October 19. Photo: Reuters
Senior intelligence officials from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime began a crucial round of talks in Istanbul on Thursday aimed at finding a viable plan to end terror attacks emanating from across the border.
Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, talks continued for more than eight hours until the submission of this report. According to sources, there were both direct and some indirect sessions through mediators. Unlike previous rounds, this time there were no deliberate leaks by either party.
According to official sources, the Pakistani delegation, led by Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and National Security Advisor Lieutenant General Asim Malik, sat with the Afghan delegation led by Intelligence Chief Abdul Haq Wasiq.
The talks are mediated by a neutral third party and aim to restore mutual trust after weeks of deadly cross-border skirmishes and growing friction between Islamabad and Kabul.
The latest meeting came as the Ministry of Information confirmed a “ceasefire violation” along the Chaman border, where Afghan elements opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani posts. “Our security forces responded quickly and responsibly, bringing the situation under control,” the ministry said in a statement late Thursday.
The statement rejected Afghan claims about the incident and highlighted that the fire started from the Afghan side. “Pakistan remains committed to the ongoing dialogue and looks forward to mutual cooperation from the Afghan authorities,” he added.
Despite the outburst, officials said both sides remained at the table in Istanbul. However, after nearly eight hours of discussions, there was no sign of a breakthrough.
Diplomatic sources suggested the talks had been “frank and direct”, with Pakistan seeking stronger commitments from Kabul to curb cross-border terrorism, particularly attacks by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The Afghan delegation reportedly insisted that any reduction in tension would require reciprocal restraint and more confidence-building measures from Pakistan.
The Istanbul meeting follows two previous rounds of engagement between the two sides. The first round, held in Doha last month, resulted in a temporary ceasefire agreement after intense exchanges of fire along the border.
The second round, also held in Istanbul, ended with both delegations agreeing to continue dialogue to avoid further escalation.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s top military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, warned that any new cross-border aggression would receive a “firm and decisive response,” signaling Islamabad’s growing impatience with the Afghan regime’s inaction against the TTP.
Officials familiar with the discussions in Istanbul said The express PAkGazette that while the tone of the engagement remained civil, “trust is at an all-time low.” One official described the session as a “defining moment” for the fragile understanding both sides reached in October.
Lieutenant General Asim Malik, considered one of Pakistan’s most influential figures after the army chief, has reportedly urged Kabul to demonstrate “seriousness and sincerity” if it wants to preserve the fragile truce and avoid a broader confrontation.
Meanwhile, Taliban delegates, including Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi, were joined by prominent figures such as Sohail Shaheen and Anas Haqqani, underscoring the importance Kabul places on dialogue.
For now, both delegations are keeping their mouths shut about the outcome. But as the Istanbul meeting drags into the night, officials admit that while diplomacy remains alive, the window for significant progress is rapidly narrowing.
