The second day of Taliban and Pakistan talks in Istanbul began on Sunday with Taliban saying to have presented a draft proposal that calls on Islamabad to honor Afghanistan’s airspace.
The draft proposal also calls on Pakistan to refrain from supporting armed groups opposed to the Taliban, according to a report by the Taliban-run national TV, RTA.
The proposal also calls for the establishment of a four-party oversight mechanism to monitor compliance with any eventual agreement and to manage a bilateral cease-fire.
While official details of the proposals remain undisclosed, Taliban-run state television reported that the Taliban had submitted a “final draft” to Pakistani negotiators, urging a mutual commitment to non-interference and protection of each other’s sovereignty.
Pakistani media, citing official sources, reported that Islamabad submitted its own security framework focused on dismantling what it describes as terrorist sanctuaries — particularly those used by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group blamed for a surge in attacks against Pakistani forces in recent months.
The TTP has long been a point of contention between the two sides. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of providing safe haven to the TTP and turning a blind eye to its growing presence in eastern Afghanistan — a claim Taliban have denied. Despite this, a UN monitoring group reported in September that TTP has almost 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan.
According to people familiar with the talks, the current round of discussions has not prioritized the relocation of TTP fighters, but rather focused on “specific counterterrorism actions” and actionable guarantees from the Taliban leadership. Pakistani officials are reportedly awaiting what one source described as a “clear and credible response.”
On Saturday, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif issued a pointed warning, suggesting that a failure to reach an agreement could prompt a military response. “We have other options,” he said, “and if talks fail, we will go to war.” He did not elaborate but indicated that the outcome of the negotiations would be made public within days.
Taliban have not issued a formal response to the minister’s remarks.
This second round of dialogue follows an earlier meeting in Doha, where a preliminary ceasefire agreement was reached but not made public. Islamabad has since said that the contents of that agreement remain classified.
A Taliban official, speaking to Amu TV on condition of anonymity, said the Istanbul talks have also addressed broader bilateral concerns, including border management, refugee repatriation, and the reopening of critical trade and transit corridors.
Despite the Taliban’s public framing of the talks as a step toward de-escalation, analysts remain skeptical of lasting results.
The current round of talks is expected to conclude Monday. If the parties reach consensus, a joint communiqué outlining key outcomes is anticipated.
