Pakistan on Thursday said that the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban will take place today (Saturday) in Istanbul, Türkiye, as a follow-up to the Doha dialogue that resulted in a temporary ceasefire last week.

At a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that all points discussed in Doha will form the agenda of the Istanbul meeting.

He added that both sides will approach the talks with the same sincerity and seriousness shown during the Doha dialogue.

Andrabi noted that since the Doha talks, no major cross-border terrorist attack has been reported from the Afghan side, which he described as “a positive outcome” of the negotiations.

He confirmed that a document was signed in Doha, saying, “It does not matter whether the Afghan Taliban government calls it an agreement or not — what matters is the understanding reached and the results achieved.”

The spokesperson said that Pakistan temporarily closed border crossings with Afghanistan due to recent security concerns, emphasising that “the life of an ordinary Pakistani is more valuable than the flow of goods or trade.”

He reiterated that the security situation changed after repeated terrorist attacks launched from Afghan soil, adding that Pakistan has consistently demonstrated sincerity in its engagement with Afghanistan.

“Our message is loud and clear: cross-border terrorist attacks must stop, and the Afghan authorities must take verifiable action against the perpetrators,” Andrabi said.

Responding to a question, he said Pakistan continues to take India’s threats seriously, adding that the country is fully prepared to respond to any aggression in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He also said that Pakistan is closely monitoring Israeli violations and the regional fallout of the ongoing conflict.