Islamabad: Taliban acknowledged TTP's presence during talks
“Pakistan's Foreign Office says Afghan officials acknowledged TTP's presence during Istanbul talks.”
Key points
- Pakistan's Foreign Office says Afghan officials acknowledged TTP's presence during Istanbul talks.
- Both sides kept a ceasefire and agreed to develop a monitoring mechanism ahead of a November 6 round.
Pakistan said Friday that Afghan authorities admitted the presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant outfits on Afghan soil during recent talks.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi told reporters the Afghan side offered various justifications for a lack of action against the groups, reinforcing Islamabad's security concerns. He stressed the sensitivity of the dialogue and said detailed disclosures would follow in the next round, scheduled for November 6.
Andrabi added that all relevant Pakistani institutions took part in the Istanbul discussions and that a ceasefire remains in place. He said the decision to keep border crossings closed was based on security assessments and would stay in effect until further notice.
Following the talks, Turkiye's Foreign Ministry said both sides agreed to set up a monitoring and verification mechanism to uphold the truce and penalise violators. The Istanbul round, mediated by Turkiye and Qatar from October 25-30, will be followed by principal-level talks next week.
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