Taliban and Pakistani delegations met for a second day on Friday in Istanbul for the third round of high-level talks aimed at de-escalating border tensions and addressing key security concerns, including the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
Details of the closed-door discussions have not been made public, but Pakistani officials say that Islamabad’s primary demand is a firm guarantee that Afghan soil will no longer be used for attacks against Pakistan, and that TTP militants operating from Afghan territory must be dismantled.
“Our demand is clear,” said Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. “Terrorism must be eradicated, and Afghan soil should not be used by terrorist groups against Pakistan. We expect oversight mechanisms to be in place to ensure this.”
The talks come amid a sharp rise in cross-border hostilities, including eight days of clashes between Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces along the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing. The previous two rounds of negotiations — held in Doha and Istanbul — ended in a temporary ceasefire but failed to produce lasting outcomes.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned this week that continued attacks from Afghan territory could leave Islamabad with “no choice” but to consider military options. “Most of the Taliban fighters who crossed into our territory and launched attacks were Afghan nationals,” he said, calling the situation alarming.
The Taliban delegation is led by Abdul Haq Wasiq, the head of their intelligence agency, while Pakistan’s side is represented by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. Asim Munir. Other members of the Taliban delegation include their senior officials from the ministries of interior and foreign affairs, as well as their envoy in Doha.
Security analysts say the talks are crucial, given the deteriorating relations between the two sides. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of harboring the TTP, while the Taliban denies any official ties and claims the group operates independently.
According to Pakistani media, during earlier talks, Taliban representatives allegedly asked for 10 billion Pakistani rupees — about $35 million — to help relocate TTP fighters, a claim the Taliban has not confirmed.
The negotiations, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, are being watched closely by regional observers. While hopes remain that the dialogue can prevent a further escalation of hostilities, no breakthrough has yet been announced.
Meanwhile, five major border crossings between the two countries remain closed, disrupting trade and the return of migrants.
