Efforts to establish permanent peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan have entered a new phase as both sides hold the second round of talks in Istanbul.

The discussions aim to build on the temporary ceasefire achieved under the Doha agreement and to outline a mechanism to prevent terrorism along the shared border.

According to diplomatic sources, the ongoing talks are being conducted at the director general (DG) level, with both delegations exchanging dossiers on progress made since the Doha agreement.

Focus on counterterrorism, border security

The key agenda of the Istanbul meeting centres on developing a joint mechanism to prevent terrorism and cross-border militant activity. Both sides emphasise the need to ensure that their territories are not used against each other, reinforcing earlier commitments made in the Doha negotiations.

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Officials noted that the discussions have been “constructive and forward-looking,” with both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban expressing readiness to maintain dialogue for regional stability.

Building on Doha peace framework

The first round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban took place in Doha, under the mediation of Qatar and Turkiye, where both sides agreed on a temporary ceasefire. The Istanbul meeting marks the continuation of that process, aimed at transitioning from short-term truce arrangements to a long-term peace strategy.

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Sources said that dossiers exchanged during the talks contained progress updates on mutual commitments, security coordination, and the implementation of agreed-upon measures since the Doha round.