Deadly clashes hit Pakistan-Afghanistan border as Istanbul talks continue

Karachi: Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants were killed in clashes near the Afghanistan border, Reuters reported, quoting the Pakistani military, on Sunday, even as delegations from both countries met to try to ease tensions in the region.

The military’s media wing reported that militants attempted to cross from Afghanistan on Friday and Saturday in Kurram and North Waziristan districts, rugged areas along Pakistan’s northwestern frontier.

Pakistan and Afghanistan held the second round of talks in Istanbul to establish a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb terrorist movements across the border. Islamabad has cautioned that war remains an option if the talks fail to address its primary concern over terrorism.

Dozens of soldiers, civilians, and militants were killed in clashes earlier this month, creating a war-like situation, but peace was temporarily restored on October 19 after talks facilitated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha.

As agreed in Doha, the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban took place on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Radio Pakistan quoted official sources saying, the discussions focused on “establishing a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb cross-border terrorist movements and addressing trade barriers.”

The two sides also explored “the possibility of reaching a long-term political understanding,” the sources added.