Islamabad, Nov 6: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday confirmed that a Pakistani delegation has departed for Istanbul to participate in another round of peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, aimed at easing the recent tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
The upcoming meeting follows a previous round of negotiations held in Istanbul on October 25, which stalled over Pakistan’s persistent concerns regarding cross-border attacks launched from Afghan soil. However, diplomatic intervention by Turkiye and Qatar helped revive the dialogue after Islamabad announced on October 29 that the talks had “failed” and that its team was preparing to return home.
The discussions in Istanbul earlier produced a three-point understanding that included the continuation of a ceasefire, the creation of a monitoring and verification mechanism to sustain peace, and penalties for any violations. Operational details of the proposed mechanism are expected to be finalised during the latest round of talks, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Minister says “final shape” of proposed changes in 27th Constitutional Amendment will emerge by next week and be tabled in Parliament.https://t.co/ojpwf81KMo
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 5, 2025
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Asif expressed cautious optimism, saying, “The delegation has gone today and the negotiations will begin tomorrow morning. Let’s hope Afghanistan makes use of wisdom and peace is restored in the region.” He reiterated that Pakistan’s priority was ensuring that Afghan territory is no longer used for attacks against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Asif declined to comment on ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, noting that the draft would take its final shape by next week before being presented in Parliament. He acknowledged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s right to express his opinion on the amendment and said the government was consulting other parties to build consensus.
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Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated in recent weeks following border skirmishes and mutual accusations. The hostilities began after an October 11 attack on Pakistan from Afghan territory, prompting retaliatory strikes and further clashes. Despite lingering mistrust, the renewed Istanbul talks — supported by Turkiye and Qatar — are being viewed as a crucial opportunity to restore stability along the volatile border.
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