Marathon Istanbul talks seek to break deadlock

Both Pakistan, Afghanistan cautious as cross-border tensions persist

Top intelligence officials from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime began a crucial round of talks in Istanbul on Thursday, aimed at finding a workable plan to end terrorist attacks emanating from across the border.

Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, the talks continued for over eight hours till the filing of this report. There were both direct sessions and some held indirectly through mediators, according to sources. Unlike the previous rounds, this time there were no deliberate leaks from either side.

According to official sources, the Pakistani delegation, led by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General and National Security Adviser Lt Gen Asim Malik, sat down with the Afghan delegation headed by intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq.

The talks are being mediated by a neutral third party and are aimed at restoring mutual trust following weeks of deadly cross-border skirmishes and growing friction between Islamabad and Kabul.

The latest meeting came as the information ministry confirmed a “ceasefire violation” along the Chaman border, where Afghan elements opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani posts. “Our security forces responded swiftly and responsibly, bringing the situation under control,” the ministry said in a statement late Thursday.

The statement rejected Afghan claims about the incident and stressed that the firing was initiated from the Afghan side. “Pakistan remains committed to the ongoing dialogue and expects mutual cooperation from the Afghan authorities,” it added.

Despite the flare-up, officials said both sides remained seated at the table in Istanbul. However, after nearly eight hours of discussions, there were no signs of a breakthrough.

Diplomatic sources suggested that the talks had been “frank and direct,” with Pakistan seeking stronger commitments from Kabul to rein in cross-border terrorism, particularly attacks by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The Afghan delegation reportedly insisted that any de-escalation would require reciprocal restraint and more confidence-building measures from Pakistan.

The Istanbul meeting follows two earlier rounds of engagement between the two sides. The first round, held in Doha last month, resulted in a temporary ceasefire agreement after an intense exchange of fire along the border.

The second round, also hosted in Istanbul, ended with both delegations agreeing to continue dialogue to prevent further escalation.

Earlier this week, Pakistan’s chief military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, warned that any further cross-border aggression would be met with a “firm and decisive response,” signalling Islamabad’s growing impatience with the Afghan regime’s inaction against the TTP.

Officials privy to the discussions in Istanbul told The Express Tribune that while the tone of engagement remained civil, “trust is at an all-time low.” One official described the session as a “make-or-break moment” for the fragile understanding both sides reached in October.

Lt Gen Asim Malik, considered one of Pakistan’s most influential figures after the army chief, has reportedly urged Kabul to demonstrate “seriousness and sincerity” if it wishes to preserve the fragile truce and avoid a wider confrontation.

Meanwhile, Taliban delegates, including Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi, were joined by prominent figures such as Sohail Shaheen and Anas Haqqani, underscoring the importance Kabul attaches to the dialogue.

For now, both delegations remain tight-lipped about the outcome. But as the Istanbul meeting stretches into the night, officials concede that while diplomacy is still alive, the window for a meaningful breakthrough is narrowing fast.