Russian Diesel Transit To Afghanistan Begins via Northern Rail Network, Says Iran

According to the sources, the delegation includes Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s representative in Qatar; Rahmatullah Najib, deputy interior minister; Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry; Zakir Jalali, head of the ministry’s second political division; and senior Taliban figure Anas Haqqani.

The Pakistani delegation will be led by Asim Malik, head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier confirmed on Taliban-controlled national television that Wasiq and his team would depart for Istanbul on Wednesday.

The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, comes as both sides attempt to ease escalating tensions after the previous Istanbul talks ended without progress. Türkiye and Qatar, acting as mediators, have pushed both sides to remain engaged until concrete results are reached.

Analysts say Türkiye is representing Pakistan’s interests in the process, while Qatar serves as a guarantor for the Taliban. The second round concluded with a joint statement from the mediators announcing an agreement to maintain the existing ceasefire.

The first round of talks between the Taliban and Pakistani foreign ministers was held in Qatar and produced a bilateral agreement. Pakistani officials later claimed the deal contained confidential annexes, while the Taliban denied this, saying the agreement had not yet been finalised.

After last week’s failed round in Istanbul, Taliban-controlled national television claimed that certain factions within Pakistan’s military were obstructing the negotiations, adding that the administration “cannot prevent attacks in Pakistan.”

Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harbouring militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and says deadly attacks inside Pakistan are being planned from Afghan territory. The Taliban deny the presence of any foreign militants in Afghanistan and reject Pakistan’s demands for written guarantees to curb TTP activity.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Taliban described Dar’s remarks as “far from reality.”

Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, wrote on X that the first phone call between the two ministers took place within the framework of routine coordination and mutual understanding. He said Dar indicated during that call that he was not fully informed about the situation and would call back after gathering more details, which led to a second conversation.

Takal added that Dar attempted to make contact again the following day, but the call did not go through for unspecified reasons.

On Tuesday, Dar told Pakistan’s Senate that he had spoken to Muttaqi six times on Monday, 3 November. He said he had stressed that Islamabad’s only demand from the Taliban is to prevent militant attacks on Pakistani soil, an allegation the Taliban has repeatedly rejected as baseless.

Takal said Dar’s “false remarks” contradict the principles of mutual respect and diplomatic engagement between the Taliban and Pakistan. He expressed hope that Pakistani officials would accurately reflect the facts in future statements.

According to the reports, Asim Malik, the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), will lead the Pakistani delegation.

The third round of negotiations, aimed at easing tensions between the two sides, is scheduled for Thursday, 6 November, in Istanbul and will be mediated by Türkiye and Qatar.

The first round of talks between the Taliban and Pakistan was held in Qatar, while the second round took place in Istanbul and ended without progress due to disagreements.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, confirmed to the Taliban-controlled National Television that a delegation led by Abdul Haq Wasiq will depart for Istanbul on Wednesday.

The second round concluded with an agreement to extend the ceasefire, but the sides failed to agree on key issues including Pakistan’s demand that the Taliban provide written guarantees preventing terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistani officials allege that militant groups, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operate from Afghan soil. They have sought written assurances from the Taliban to curb TTP activities. The Taliban deny the presence of any foreign militants in Afghanistan and refuse to issue such guarantees.

The organisation said the Taliban continue to detain, harass, and imprison journalists in Afghanistan without charge.

Nai reported that Pakistani police had arrested Afghan journalist Fatima Hamnawa, who lives in Pakistan, along with her two children. The organisation expressed concern that she may be deported to Afghanistan.

Hamnawa, like many other Afghan refugees, had been living in Pakistan on a temporary visa and was detained after her visa expired.

The Pakistani government has stopped extending visas for Afghan migrants and has deported hundreds of thousands over the past year. Human rights and press freedom groups have repeatedly warned that activists and journalists are among the most vulnerable and should not be forced to return to Afghanistan.

Nai called on the Pakistani government to release Hamnawa and allow her visa to be renewed.

The organisation also reminded authorities that Pakistan had previously pledged not to arrest or deport Afghan human rights defenders and journalists. It urged Islamabad to honour that commitment and prevent the forced return of vulnerable individuals.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Taliban intelligence agencies continue to suppress, detain, and humiliate independent journalists, treating them “like criminals.”

The suspension is reportedly in protest against new Taliban restrictions on female employees.

According to the sources, the suspension followed a directive from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which imposed new limitations on women’s employment in the border region of Islam Qala, along the Iranian frontier.

At least four credible sources said that last Thursday, Taliban enforcers from the ministry visited aid agencies in Islam Qala and announced that women were no longer permitted to work in the health sector or with any charity or humanitarian organisation. Officials reportedly warned that even in health services, women could only work if fully covered, including burqa, mask, and gloves.

On Saturday, another group of Taliban officers returned and issued a new order allowing only one or two female doctors to continue working, while all other female employees including vaccinators, health trainers, and humanitarian staff were told to leave their workplaces immediately.

Sources said that a meeting was later held between representatives of the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, the Vice and Virtue Ministry, and international organisations. During the meeting, it was decided that only four women would be allowed to continue working in health services across all Islam Qala border camps.

UN and aid agency representatives reportedly warned that if the restrictions persisted, they would halt their operations entirely. Following these objections, humanitarian aid and assistance programmes in Islam Qala have been suspended until further notice.

The development comes as hundreds of Afghan returnees from Iran continue to cross daily into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border.