Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Turkiye for its pivotal role in facilitating renewed diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as fresh negotiations commenced in Istanbul on Thursday.
The resumption of bilateral dialogue follows weeks of heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with both nations seeking sustainable peace through mediated discussions. Turkiye and Qatar are serving as key mediators in these critical negotiations.
During the latest round, participating parties agreed to establish a comprehensive monitoring and verification mechanism designed to maintain peace and enforce accountability measures against any violators of agreed-upon terms.
Recent weeks witnessed escalating confrontations along Pakistan’s western frontier, with Islamabad responding to cross-border aggression. Pakistani military operations reportedly neutralized over 400 hostile elements, including members of various militant organizations, through targeted precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure within Afghan territory.
While both countries signed a ceasefire agreement in Doha on October 19, subsequent negotiations in Istanbul concluded without achieving a comprehensive long-term settlement. The primary obstacle remains disagreement over militant groups operating within Afghanistan that pose security threats to Pakistan.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif previously emphasized the importance of tangible progress in these discussions, warning that diplomatic efforts would prove futile without substantive advancements toward resolution.
In parallel developments, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to strengthen bilateral cooperation on counterterrorism and anti-narcotics initiatives. The Turkish minister emphasized expanding collaboration between law enforcement agencies and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
Interior Ministers Mohsin Naqvi and Yerlikaya conducted comprehensive discussions addressing counterterrorism strategies, narcotics control operations, human trafficking prevention, border security enhancement, and cybercrime mitigation.
The ongoing negotiations represent a critical diplomatic initiative aimed at stabilizing the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship and addressing longstanding security concerns that have complicated bilateral relations. Both nations continue working toward establishing lasting peace frameworks with international mediation support.
