ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s negotiating team is in Istanbul to begin a new round of peace talks with Afghanistan on Thursday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, reaffirming that Islamabad was seeking an end to cross-border militant attacks.
The two countries engaged in deadly border clashes last month that killed dozens of people on both sides before reaching a tenuous ceasefire amid peace talks mediated by Qatar and Türkiye.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants who launch cross-border attacks while urging the authorities in Kabul not to let their land be used by armed factions. Afghanistan has frequently denied Islamabad’s allegation of any militant presence in the past, describing Pakistan’s security challenges as its internal matter.
However, the Taliban abandoned their traditional position more recently, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid telling media Pakistan did not accept Kabul’s proposal “to expel individuals whom Islamabad considers a threat” from Afghanistan during the last round of negotiations, a claim dismissed by Pakistani authorities.
“The delegation left today and negotiations will start tomorrow,” the Pakistani minister told a group of journalists outside the parliament building on Wednesday, referring to his country’s negotiators and the talks with Afghanistan. “Let’s hope the Afghans also act with some prudence and peace can be restored in this region.”
