Web desk: The second round of Pakistan Afghanistan talks concluded in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The Pakistan Afghanistan talks were hosted by Türkiye at a local hotel and attended by high-level delegations from both countries.
The implementation of the points agreed upon in the initial talks in Qatar was reviewed in detail.
Second round of Pakistan Afghanistan talks
The two sides discussed border security, trade transport, and the growing threat of terrorism in the region.
Pakistan presented a comprehensive plan for preventing terrorism and border stability in the talks.
A two-member Pakistani delegation participated in the talks, while the Afghan delegation was led by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib.
The Turkiye authorities hosted and facilitated all stages of the talks. Both sides emphasised the need to reach a consensus on a permanent security mechanism after the temporary ceasefire agreed in Qatar.
On this occasion, Turkiye also proposed to advance confidence-building measures between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Prior to this round of talks, the first Pakistan Afghanistan talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey were held in Doha.
Border closures between Pakistan and Afghanistan have caused a sharp rise in the prices of essential goods in both countries.
With this, tomato prices in Pakistan have increased nearly fivefold since clashes began earlier this month.
It was the most intense fighting since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, Dawn reports.
Trade and transit have been completely halted since the aggression broke out, according to Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce in Kabul.
Speaking to Reuters, he said both countries are losing about $1 million a day as a result of the closure.
Most of the trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, valued at around $2.3 billion a year, includes food items such as fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, rice, wheat, sugar and dairy products, as well as minerals and medicine.
