Third Round of Taliban–Pakistan Talks Opens In Istanbul
The third round of talks between the Taliban and Pakistan began on Thursday, 6 November, in Istanbul, with both sides discussing a mechanism to sustain the ongoing ceasefire.
The third round of talks between the Taliban and Pakistan began on Thursday, 6 November, in Istanbul, with both sides discussing a mechanism to sustain the ongoing ceasefire.
Pakistan is seeking decisive action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while the Afghan Taliban are emphasising respect for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity. Representatives from Qatar and Türkiye are attending the discussions, which are aimed at preventing the fragile truce from collapsing.
Narges Hurakhsh, Afghanistan International’s correspondent in Türkiye, reported that media access to the venue is heavily restricted, underscoring the sensitivity of the negotiations. The first and second rounds, held in Doha and Istanbul, were also conducted behind closed doors.
The Taliban delegation arrived in Istanbul around midnight, followed by the Pakistani delegation early Thursday morning.
According to Afghanistan International’s reporter, expectations for this round remain low, though Qatar and Türkiye are working to maintain communication between the sides and prevent a breakdown of the ceasefire.
Pakistan has warned that if negotiations fail, a military confrontation could follow.
Jawad Hamdani, Afghanistan International’s correspondent in Islamabad, reported that Pakistani officials are not optimistic about the talks, citing ongoing disagreements over how to contain TTP.
Pakistan is demanding that the Taliban curb the TTP’s activities, while the Taliban insist that Pakistan must respect Afghanistan’s airspace and territorial sovereignty.
The Doha talks resulted in a temporary ceasefire and a halt to border clashes, but the second round in Istanbul ended without progress.
