The Taliban and Pakistan are preparing for a second round of talks in Turkey, sources familiar with the matter told Amu TV. According to the sources, this round will focus more on technical-level negotiations.
The development follows controversy over remarks by Pakistan’s defense minister, who described the contents of the initial Taliban-Pakistan agreement as classified. The secrecy has drawn criticism from Afghan political figures and citizens, who argue the Afghan people have a right to know the full terms of any such deal.
Previously, Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said the Doha talks resulted in an agreement on a permanent cease-fire and the establishment of a mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations. He said the implementation of this structure would be overseen by Turkey and Qatar and carried out by joint technical committees.
“A permanent cease-fire was agreed upon,” Mujahid said. “A mechanism will be created for maintaining the cease-fire and improving political and economic relations. Technical working committees under the supervision of Turkey and Qatar will manage the process.”
However, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif later offered a different account in an interview with local media, stating that the agreement was classified and not open for public disclosure.
“The content agreement we signed is secret. It is not related to anything else,” Asif said.
The comments have stirred debate, especially in light of the complex and often contentious relations between the two sides — particularly over the Durand Line. Afghanistan’s former attorney general, Farid Hamidi, urged the Taliban to release the full text of the agreement, arguing that the public has a right to transparency.
“People have the right to know,” Hamidi said. “Ordinary Taliban members should ask their leaders what they’ve agreed to and at what cost. If nothing is being concealed, the original text should be made public.”
Several Afghan citizens echoed that demand, insisting the public should be fully informed about any deals struck between the Taliban and Pakistan.
Addressing those concerns, Mujahid said at a recent press conference that the Durand Line issue was not discussed in the talks and that such matters are for the nations themselves to decide.
Despite the recent escalation of tensions — which led to armed clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces — both sides appear to be moving toward a possible diplomatic reset. Whether the new agreement, whose details remain undisclosed, can restore the fractured relationship remains to be seen.
