Days ahead of planned talks in Istanbul, the Pakistan Army said Monday that its sole negotiating agenda with the Taliban is the termination of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan’s territory — a demand Islamabad says is not up for discussion.
During a media briefing, Sharif Chaudhry, the army’s spokesman, criticized the pre‑conditions set by the Taliban and reiterated Pakistan’s demand: “What matters is the end of terrorism. The Afghan territory must not be used against us,” he said.
The remarks come ahead of a new round of negotiations between Pakistan and the Taliban, scheduled for November 6 in Turkey. The upcoming talks follow a six‑day session in Istanbul mediated by Qatar and Turkey, which resulted in a reaffirmed ceasefire and agreement to create a cross‑border monitoring mechanism, though key implementation details remain unresolved.
According to Pakistani sources, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada consulted with his negotiating team in the run‑up to the upcoming talks, underscoring the high stakes in Islamabad’s eyes. Taliban authorities have not publicly responded to Chaudhry’s latest comments.
Chaudhry claimed that 206 Taliban fighters and 112 members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in recent cross‑border clashes, and alleged that approximately 60 % of “terrorists” killed in recent months were Afghan nationals. He asserted that the TTP was a “branch” of the Taliban rather than a separate organization, adding that Pakistan had “clear evidence” of Taliban fighters sheltering TTP operatives in populated areas.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after one of the worst border confrontations between the two neighbors since the Taliban assumed power in 2021. According to analysts, Pakistan views the earlier cease‑fire and monitoring arrangement as a test of the Taliban’s commitment, and expects concrete action against TTP sanctuaries, logistical networks and financial support.
Islamabad has warned that failure to act could lead to military reprisal; however, deep mutual suspicion remains. Taliban have countered Pakistani accusations by alleging that Islamabad conducts airstrikes on Afghan territory. Meanwhile, Taliban officials argue that TTP activity is a matter of internal Pakistani security.
