Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Saturday with the primary aim of halting terrorist attacks launched from Afghan soil.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad that the Istanbul dialogue seeks to establish a “tangible and verifiable monitoring mechanism” to curb cross-border militant activity.
Andrabi said Pakistan welcomes the agreement finalised in Doha on 19 October 2025, calling it an “important step toward ensuring regional peace and stability.” He added that Islamabad hopes the Istanbul meeting will help both sides create an effective framework to address what Pakistan views as the terror threat originating from Afghanistan.
It remains unclear which officials will represent the two sides in Istanbul. In the first round of talks, held in Doha last Saturday, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, and Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, the Taliban’s defence minister, led their respective delegations.
The Doha talks came after several days of deadly border clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces. That round, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, ended with an agreement on a temporary ceasefire, which remains largely intact, according to Andrabi.
The Taliban has not yet issued a statement regarding the upcoming Istanbul meeting.
Andrabi expressed Pakistan’s appreciation to Qatar and Türkiye for their constructive roles in facilitating dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul, saying continued engagement was crucial to promoting regional security and stability.
