Khawaja Asif urges Kabul to ensure Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday urged the Afghan government to act “wisely” for regional peace, reiterating that Pakistan’s key demand remains that Afghan territory must not be used for hostile acts against it, Aaj News reported.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Asif said a Pakistani delegation had departed for Istanbul to participate in the second round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, scheduled to begin on Thursday.

“Talks are only held when there is hope for progress; otherwise, they are a waste of time,” he said.

The minister emphasised that peace in the region depended on Afghanistan’s responsible conduct.

“Our single demand from Afghanistan is that its soil should not be used against Pakistan. To achieve lasting peace, Kabul must make decisions with wisdom and foresight,” he added.

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban ‘agree’ to revive Istanbul talks ‘to give peace another chance’

According to official sources, Pakistan will deliver a clear message during the Istanbul talks that cross-border militant activity from Afghan territory is unacceptable. Both sides are expected to discuss a verification mechanism for the ceasefire and finalize enforcement procedures.

The meetings, mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, follow an earlier round in Doha on October 19, where Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban agreed to maintain the ceasefire and establish a monitoring system empowered to penalize violations.

Tensions between the two neighbours had spiked after cross-border attacks on October 11, which Kabul said were in response to alleged Pakistani air operations inside Afghanistan. The situation later de-escalated through mediation efforts by Turkiye and Qatar, leading to renewed dialogue in Istanbul.

Officials said the Taliban delegation may include a senior minister; if so, Khawaja Asif is expected to join the talks in person. Pakistan’s National Security Adviser is already part of the delegation.

For Islamabad, the Istanbul round is a crucial test of Kabul’s willingness to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism and to back its assurances with tangible actions, a prerequisite for regional stability and improved bilateral trust.