Asif confirms delegation’s departure for Istanbul talks with Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister KhawajaAsif on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan’s delegation had departed for tomorrow’s talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul to find a solution to the current tensions between the two neighbours.

A second round of discussions between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations had begun in Istanbul on October 25, following days of border hostilities, but Islamabad’s long-standing concern over terror attacks emanating from Kabul remained a major point of contention, resulting in a stalemate.

A breakthrough came after Turkiye and Qatar salvaged the dialogue process for the second time in less than a week, following Pakistan’s announcement on Oct 29 that the talks had “failed” and that its negotiators were preparing to return home.

The talks produced a three-point understanding — the continuation of the ceasefire, the establishment of a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace, and penalties for violations. The operational details of that mechanism are expected to be finalised when the “principals”, senior representatives from both sides, meet again in Istanbul on November 6.

Talking to the media outside Parliament today, Asif said: “The delegation has gone today and the negotiations will begin tomorrow morning. Let’s hope Afghanistan makes use of wisdom and peace is restored in the region.”

He said Pakistan had a single-point agenda, Afghanistan clampdowns on attacks on the former from the latter’s soil.

Questioned on whether there was hope of a positive development, Asif said talks were only engaged in if there was a possibility of progress; otherwise, it was a waste of time.

27th Constitutional Amendment: Separately, the defence minister said he could not share details regarding the reservations or the discussions taking place over the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, adding that the draft would take its “final shape” by next week before being tabled in Parliament.

Asif said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had a complete right to express his opinion on the amendment and that the government was engaging with other political parties in the same spirit to gain their opinion and input.

The defence minister, however, declined to comment on the rumoured proposed changes in the upcoming constitutional amendment.

Pakistan and Afghanistan saw a worsening of ties during recent weeks, which featured border skirmishes, counter-statements and allegations. The hostilities began last month when an attack was launched on Pakistan from Afghanistan on the night of October 11. The attack had followed an allegation from the Afghan Taliban of airstrikes by Pakistan into Afghanistan — an accusation which Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied. For its part, Islamabad has long demanded that the Taliban stop terror groups from using its soil against Pakistan. The Taliban, however, deny the allegation of allowing terrorists to operate from Afghan soil. Staff Report