Islamabad (TDI): A high-level delegation from Turkiye is scheduled to visit Islamabad next week to discuss rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government, and to explore a peaceful resolution, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Irfan Neziroglu said on Friday.
Speaking at a reception celebrating Oman’s National Day, hosted by Ambassador Fahad Sulaiman Khalaf Al-Kharusi, Dr. Neziroglu noted that the delegation will include Turkiye’s intelligence chief and key ministers, including Minister for Energy Alparslan Bayraktar, The News reported.
The visit follows a prior announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku.
The announcement comes after talks in Istanbul earlier this month ended without agreement, with the Afghan government showing reluctance to act against terrorist groups operating from its territory. Dr. Neziroglu, who played a role in facilitating the Istanbul trilateral talks, stressed that Turkiye seeks to ensure no attacks emanate from Afghan soil into Pakistan, emphasizing that both countries should “live like brothers.”
Read More: Pakistan’s Demand to End Cross-Border Terrorism Under Discussion in Istanbul: FO
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul escalated after an unprovoked attack on Pakistan by Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to by Pakistan as Fitna al-Khawarij, on October 12. The Pakistan Armed Forces responded decisively, reportedly killing over 200 militants in self-defense operations. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the clashes.
In addition to defensive operations along the border, Pakistani forces conducted precision strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar and Kabul, as well as in North and South Waziristan districts, targeting militant strongholds.
Read More: Shots Fired, Yet Dialogue Continues: Pak–Afghan Talks in Istanbul Underway
Following these clashes, both sides had agreed on a temporary ceasefire during talks in Doha on October 19, and later held meetings in Istanbul. Pakistan’s aim has been to establish a mechanism to prevent cross-border terrorism. However, the Istanbul discussions failed to yield results, with Islamabad asserting that Kabul used the talks to malign Pakistan rather than address the core concern of militant activity emanating from Afghan territory.
