Pakistan, Afghan officials to resume talks in Istanbul today

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the next round of engagement with Afghan authorities will take place in Istanbul, continuing discussions that began in Doha and produced a ceasefire along the frontier. Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi told reporters Islamabad seeks a verifiable monitoring mechanism to curb cross-border terrorism blamed on groups operating from Afghan soil. He stressed that Pakistan does not want escalation and urged the Taliban administration to honour commitments made to the international community by acting against outfits such as the TTP and BLA. Andrabi noted that no major cross-border attack has occurred in recent days, calling it an early sign that the process can reduce violence. Border crossings remain closed due to security concerns, disrupting trade since clashes earlier this month left dozens dead on both sides. Officials say the ceasefire continues to hold while talks, hosted by Qatar and Turkiye, focus on stabilising the frontier and restoring safe movement in stages.