Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan’s delegation has departed for Istanbul to attend a fresh round of talks with the Afghan Taliban.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, the minister said negotiations with Kabul are held only when there is “a reasonable hope for progress.”

Khawaja Asif said if the talks with Afghanistan fail, the situation could deteriorate.

“If violations against our territory continue, we will respond in kind,” he cautioned.

He urged the Afghan authorities to act “wisely for the sake of regional peace” and reiterated Pakistan’s core demand that “Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan”.

“As long as there is hope for progress, we will talk. If there isn’t, negotiations serve no purpose,” Asif remarked.

The third round of Istanbul talks is expected to finalise the mechanism for enforcing the ceasefire agreed upon earlier.

Pakistan is likely to convey a clear message that Afghan soil must not be used for any kind of terrorism against Pakistan.

The latest talks follow a fragile truce reached in late October after cross-border hostilities.

Earlier discussions between the two sides, facilitated by Turkiye and Qatar, resulted in a three-point understanding: maintaining the ceasefire, setting up a joint monitoring mechanism, and imposing penalties for violations.

According to diplomatic sources, the latest round of talks will finalise operational details of that mechanism.

If the Afghan delegation is led by a senior minister, Khawaja Asif is also expected to travel to Istanbul. Pakistan’s National Security Adviser is part of the delegation.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated after cross-border attacks on October 11, which followed Kabul’s accusations of Pakistani airstrikes.

Both countries agreed to a ceasefire in Doha on October 19, paving the way for the Istanbul dialogue.

Officials said the second round in Istanbul will aim to solidify the ceasefire framework, a step viewed as crucial for restoring stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

27th Amendment draft under preparation

The minister said the “27th Constitutional Amendment draft” is still under preparation and will be shared after consultation with all political parties.

He added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has the right to express his opinion on any matter.