Islamabad (TDI): The delay in the planned visit of a high-level Turkish delegation to Pakistan may be linked to the Afghan Taliban’s lack of cooperation, the Foreign Office said on Friday.
The delegation was originally scheduled to arrive last month to discuss ongoing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan.
During his weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi noted that scheduling issues could also be a factor in the delay. He emphasized that Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan will remain closed until Kabul provides firm assurances that militants and violent elements will not cross into Pakistani territory. “This border closure must be seen in the larger context of security,” he added.
Andrabi further clarified that cross-border terrorism is not limited to the TTP or TTA; Afghan nationals have also been involved in serious criminal activities within Pakistan. On Thursday, the Torkham and Chaman crossings were reopened solely for humanitarian aid.
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The Turkish delegation, whose visit was first mentioned by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku, is expected to include key ministers and the head of Turkish intelligence. According to the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, Turkiye played an active role in facilitating earlier trilateral talks on Afghanistan in Istanbul.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated on October 12 when Pakistani border posts were attacked by the Afghan Taliban along with affiliated militants. The clashes, which began the night of October 11–12, resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban fighters and 23 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan responded with precision strikes targeting militant hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul provinces.
A temporary ceasefire was agreed upon on October 15 at Afghanistan’s request, and both sides reached a formal ceasefire deal in Qatar on October 19, facilitated by mediators from Doha and Turkey. The agreement called for an immediate halt to cross-border terrorism and included plans to establish mechanisms for long-term peace and stability.
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Subsequent talks in Turkiye, however, broke down after Pakistan rejected the Taliban delegation’s arguments, which Islamabad deemed unreasonable, and due to their unwillingness to address concerns about ongoing cross-border attacks. Mediators eventually persuaded Pakistan to give the dialogue another chance, resulting in a renewed commitment to uphold the ceasefire.
