The second round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan has begun in Istanbul, Türkiye, as both countries seek to establish a mechanism for addressing cross-border terrorism and improving bilateral security cooperation, diplomatic sources confirmed on Thursday.

According to sources, the dialogue is being held at a local hotel in Istanbul under the mediation and supervision of senior Turkish officials. The Pakistani delegation comprises two senior security officials, while the Afghan side is led by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib.

The Afghan delegation also includes Anas Haqqani—brother of the Afghan Interior Minister—Noor Ahmad Noor, Noorur Rehman Nusrat from the Ministry of Defense, the acting head of the Afghan embassy in Qatar, and the spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Officials familiar with the proceedings revealed that the primary focus of the Istanbul talks is to develop a joint mechanism for monitoring terrorist activities, ensuring that both nations share intelligence and take coordinated action against militant networks operating across the border.

Pakistan’s representatives have reportedly presented a set of proposals emphasizing the need to prevent cross-border terrorist attacks, strengthen border management, and finalize an actionable framework for sustained cooperation.

These discussions follow the first round of Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations, which took place in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and Türkiye, resulting in a temporary truce along the border.

However, despite diplomatic progress, tensions remain high along several border crossings, including Chaman, Khyber, North and South Waziristan, and Kurram, which have now been closed for 14 consecutive days due to security concerns.

Hundreds of freight trucks and commercial vehicles are stranded at key border points such as Bab-e-Dosti, Torkham, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan, causing significant disruption to trade and humanitarian movement between the two neighboring states.

Diplomatic sources indicate that both sides are eager to achieve a sustainable peace mechanism that ensures regional stability while addressing mutual concerns related to terrorism, border control, and refugee management.