ISTANBUL — Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have reached an interim understanding after six tense days of high stakes talks in Istanbul, agreeing to uphold a fragile ceasefire and prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan, according to “The Express Tribune”.
The breakthrough, achieved after several near-collapses in negotiation, was brokered with the help of Turkey and Qatar. Both mediators pressed the two sides to “give peace another chance,” leading to what diplomats described as a cautious but meaningful step toward regional stability.
Under the provisional accord, both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire first established during the Doha talks earlier this year. The Afghan Taliban pledged that Afghan soil would not serve as a base for assaults on Pakistan and promised “clear, verifiable, and effective action” against militant groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) referred to by Pakistani officials as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
A joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be formed to oversee compliance and impose penalties for any breaches. The next round of talks is scheduled for November 6, again in Istanbul, to finalize implementation details.
Pakistani officials described their delegation’s stance as “firm, evidence based, and professional,” calling the outcome a “victory for reason and national interest.” The government later reaffirmed that Islamabad remains committed to peace but “will not compromise on sovereignty or public security.”
The Istanbul discussions followed weeks of heightened border tensions. In early October, deadly clashes erupted after what Pakistan called “unprovoked” fire from Afghan forces across multiple frontier regions, prompting a swift and forceful Pakistani military response. Dozens of Afghan fighters were reported killed.
Pakistan’s delegation, led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, focused on a single demand: dismantling terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory. Afghan officials, led by Acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, confirmed that both sides had agreed to a “complete and meaningful ceasefire.”
While the Istanbul understanding stops short of a formal peace deal, diplomats and analysts say it marks a rare moment of alignment between the two uneasy neighbors one that could help stabilize one of the most volatile frontiers in South Asia.
