Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban's 'false and misleading' claims on Istanbul talks

Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan has strongly rejected the Afghan Taliban's "misleading" propaganda regarding the Istanbul negotiations.

In a statement issued on social media platform X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting dismissed claims made by the Afghan spokesperson, accusing the Taliban of distorting the facts surrounding the talks.

Pakistan rejects deliberate twisting of facts attributed to Afghan spokesperson regarding Istanbul talks.
Pakistan had demanded that terrorists in Afghanistan posing a threat to Pakistan be controlled or arrested.
When the Afghan side said that they were Pakistani nationals, pic.twitter.com/m8fvr29HXK

— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) November 1, 2025

The Ministry clarified that Pakistan had demanded the arrest of terrorists operating on Afghan soil and had immediately offered to take custody of these individuals. It emphasized that Pakistan’s stance on the issue is clear, consistent, and well-documented.

The Ministry further stated that any false statements against Pakistan were unacceptable and asserted that Afghanistan's claims were not in line with the facts. Pakistan reaffirmed that the handover of terrorists could be carried out at border entry points.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) also raised concerns over the Afghan Taliban's actions, particularly their support for India-backed terrorist groups like "Fitnatul Khawarij" and "Fitnatul Hind." The COAS stated that instead of acting against these groups, the Taliban had been aiding them, a situation that continues to raise alarm in Pakistan.

The two countries had earlier agreed to maintain a ceasefire after border skirmishes and a rapid deterioration in relations in the early days of October. The Istanbul agreement, which was reached after a prolonged deadlock, came despite serious concerns over the ongoing security situation.

After several days of stalled negotiations, mediators from Turkey and Qatar successfully intervened, bringing the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations back to the table. At one point, Pakistan's delegation had been preparing to return due to the lack of progress in the talks.

In a joint statement, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a high-level meeting will be held on November 6 in Istanbul to discuss further steps for the implementation of the ceasefire. Although the statement did not specify which leaders would attend, it is expected that the defense ministers of both countries, who led the first round of talks in Doha, will meet again in Istanbul.

On October 30, Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir reiterated Pakistan's commitment to peace with all of its neighbors, including Afghanistan. However, he stressed that Pakistan would not tolerate terrorism emanating from Afghan territory. Despite the continuous cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Pakistan has exercised restraint in recent years and has taken various diplomatic and economic measures to improve bilateral ties.

This ongoing diplomatic engagement highlights Pakistan's efforts to maintain regional peace, while firmly opposing terrorism and its sponsors.