Second Round of Taliban-Pakistan Talks Concludes in Istanbul
The second round of official talks between delegations from the Taliban administration and Pakistan concluded on Saturday evening, October 24, in Istanbul, Turkey. The meeting, part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, aimed to explore solutions for reducing security tensions between the two sides and enhancing regional understanding.
According to a report by Sama TV, negotiations proceeded through two separate sessions and are expected to continue over the next three days. Key topics included border issues, security cooperation, and implementation of previous agreements. Informed sources stated that the discussions focused on the urgent need to address shared security threats along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Earlier, on October 19, a meeting was held in Doha, Qatar, between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Mohammad Yaqoob, acting Defence Minister of the Taliban administration. During that session, the parties agreed to an immediate ceasefire, a move that paved the way for the fresh round of talks in Istanbul.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a historically tense relationship, often marked by border clashes and mutual accusations, including harboring armed groups. Despite lacking international recognition, the Taliban administration holds an influential role in either stabilizing or destabilizing the region. The ongoing talks with Pakistan are seen as another test of the group’s political will to reduce violence and engage in regional cooperation.
