ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: The second round of high-level talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan is set to begin in Istanbul today, with both nations seeking to translate their recent ceasefire into a verifiable and lasting peace mechanism.
The dialogue follows last week’s Doha meeting, where both sides — under the facilitation of Qatar and Turkey — agreed to a temporary ceasefire to end cross-border hostilities. However, Islamabad has stressed that peace will only hold if the commitments made in Doha are implemented through clear, measurable actions.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the Istanbul meeting aims to develop a “structured framework” for monitoring border security, sharing intelligence, and ensuring compliance through third-party verification. Sources suggest Turkey and Qatar may jointly oversee this mechanism to maintain transparency and accountability.
On the Afghan side, the delegation is reportedly being led by Deputy Interior Minister Mawlawi Rahmatullah Najeeb, who is expected to discuss Pakistan’s concerns over militant sanctuaries and the movement of fighters along the Durand Line. The talks will also touch upon migration issues, border management, and the resumption of suspended transit trade, which has caused economic strain on both nations.
Diplomatic observers view the Istanbul round as a potential turning point — a move from political rhetoric to operational peace. Yet, much depends on whether both sides can uphold their pledges beyond the negotiating table and foster real stability in a region long marred by mistrust and conflict.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.