Istanbul: Trkiye will host a second round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul, as announced by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and Afghan officials. The meeting, scheduled for Saturday, aims to establish a 'concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism' to curb cross-border terrorism, according to Pakistani Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi.
According to Anadolu Agency, Andrabi stated that Pakistan welcomes the agreement finalized in Doha, Qatar, on 19 October 2025, as a first step towards ensuring regional peace and stability. He emphasized that Pakistan looks forward to establishing a concrete monitoring mechanism at the upcoming meeting in Istanbul to address terrorism originating from Afghan territory that affects Pakistan.
Kabul confirmed the meeting in Istanbul, with Afghan interim administration spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announcing that their delegation is led by Mawlawi Rahmatullah Najeeb, deputy minister at the Ministry of Interior. Mujahid highlighted that the remaining issues with Pakistan will be discussed during the meeting, as he shared on the US social media platform X.
The Afghan delegation has already departed for Istanbul. The talks follow a series of deadly border clashes, with Doha hosting earlier discussions between Islamabad and Kabul last week. The talks, facilitated by Qatar and Trkiye, resulted in a ceasefire that remains in effect. Andrabi expressed Pakistan's deep appreciation for the constructive role played by Qatar and Trkiye in mediating dialogue between the two nations.