Istanbul to host Pakistan-Afghanistan talks on border security

Türkiye is set to host significant diplomatic talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul this weekend, continuing its mediation efforts between the neighboring nations. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed the Saturday meeting will focus on creating verifiable monitoring systems to address cross-border terrorism concerns that have recently escalated into deadly clashes along their shared frontier.

Building on Doha Agreement

The Istanbul negotiations follow initial talks mediated by both Qatar and Türkiye in Doha last week, which produced a ceasefire agreement that remains in effect. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi characterized the Doha agreement as "a first step in ensuring regional peace and stability," while emphasizing that the Istanbul meeting aims to establish more concrete mechanisms to prevent terrorist activities originating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan's Security Objectives

Andrabi explicitly stated Pakistan's expectation that the Istanbul talks will yield "a concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism" to curb cross-border militant movements and prevent further Pakistani casualties. The spokesman's remarks highlighted ongoing security concerns that have strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, despite the current ceasefire holding along their contested border regions.

Türkiye's Growing Diplomatic Role

Pakistan extended special gratitude to both Türkiye and Qatar for their "constructive role" in facilitating dialogue between the two South Asian nations. While Afghanistan's government has not yet commented on the upcoming Istanbul meeting, Türkiye's continued diplomatic engagement demonstrates its expanding role as a regional mediator capable of bridging differences between Muslim nations with complex bilateral relationships.