The onus is on Kabul to act against terrorists using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan, says Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. With a joint monitoring and verification mechanism in place, the responsibility falls on the Afghan government to take decisive action against terrorists operating from their territory. This comes as a second round of talks between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations in Istanbul on October 25th failed to resolve long-standing concerns over terror attacks emanating from Kabul. The discussions were initially intended to address border hostilities, but the lack of progress led to a stalemate. However, a breakthrough emerged when Turkey and Qatar intervened, saving the dialogue process for the second time in less than a week. The talks resulted in a three-point understanding: continuation of the ceasefire, establishment of a monitoring and verification mechanism for peace, and penalties for violations. The operational details of this mechanism will be finalized when senior representatives from both sides meet again in Istanbul on November 6th. Information Minister Tarar emphasized that the onus is on the Afghan regime, as their soil is being used for terrorism in Pakistan by designated terrorist groups. He stated that Pakistan will provide evidence, and the Afghan Taliban regime must take action. If they fail to do so, they will face punishment. Tarar also criticized the Afghan Taliban government as a 'fractured regime' lacking full control over Afghanistan. He accused them of propaganda and called for an end to baseless allegations. The recent border skirmishes and talks have strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Pakistan demanding that the Taliban stop terror groups from using their soil against Pakistan. The Taliban deny these allegations, and Pakistan continues to suffer casualties among security forces in counter-terrorism operations. The situation remains tense, with ongoing negotiations and a temporary ceasefire in place.
