FO optimistic for next round of talks on Nov 6 | The Express Tribune

Pakistan has stressed that it does not wish to escalate tensions with Afghanistan and remains hopeful for a “positive outcome” from the next round of talks with the Afghan Taliban regime, scheduled to begin on November 6, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Friday at a press briefing.

He recalled that the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime in the presence of mediators concluded in Istanbul yesterday evening.

“Pakistan participated in the Istanbul talks, which started on October 25, in a good spirit and with a positive intention,” he added.

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The talks were scheduled to run for two days. “However, in an effort to reach an amicable agreement with the Taliban regime, the Pakistan side, in earnest, continued the talks for four days.”

He stressed that Pakistan does not intend to escalate hostilities further but “expects the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its commitment to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist entities, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan”.

The term Fitna-al-Khawarij is the term designated by the state to refer to the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna-al-Hindustan is employed to describe Balochistan-based groups, highlighting the state’s allegations of India’s involvement in terrorism and efforts to destabilise Pakistan.

Andrabi said that Pakistan had been urging the Afghan Taliban for the past four years to take “decisive and effective measures” against terrorist outfits present on Afghanistan soil.

“We repeatedly shared credible information about the presence of top leadership of Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan on Afghan soil with the Taliban regime. However, despite repeated assurances in the past, there has been a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan.”

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He said the “consistent and total disregard” of Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by the Afghan Taliban over the last four years and the “unprovoked aggression against Pakistan with the support of Fitna-al-Khawarij on Oct 11 and 12 and later Oct 14 and 15 led to violent exchanges across the international border”.

“Pakistan decisively responded to Afghan provocation aimed at destabilising the border area, facilitating terrorism, and furthering the Fitna-al-Khawarij’s nefarious designs”. Pakistan would respond resolutely if provocations continue in the future, he further warned.

The spokesperson reasserted that the “government and armed forces stand ready to take all possible measures to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and ensure the safety and security of its people”.

The spokesperson went into detail about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh.

During the visit, the Prime Minister met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held important talks with the Saudi defence minister.

The delegation also held telephonic discussions with foreign ministers of various countries, covering bilateral matters and investment opportunities.

Pak-Afghan tensions

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, both sides said on October 19, after a week of fierce border clashes, the worst violence between the South Asian neighbours since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.

The two countries met again in Istanbul on October 25 to chalk out “detailed matters”. However, the talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul failed to yield any breakthrough on Islamabad’s key demand for a clear plan of action to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from Afghan soil.

Read more: Pakistan agrees to resume talks with Afghan Taliban at hosts’ request

Radio Pakistan, on Thursday, confirmed that Pakistan has agreed to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban at the request of the host countries, a move that will keep the Pakistani delegation in Istanbul longer than planned.

The decision was taken to give the negotiating process another chance, but that Pakistan’s core demand — that Afghan territory must not be used to carry out terrorism against Pakistan — will remain central to any renewed discussions.