Pakistan includes ISI, military officials in delegation for talks with Taliban

Pakistani media reported Saturday that representatives from the country’s military and intelligence agencies, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are part of the delegation currently engaged in ceasefire talks with the Taliban in Turkey.

According to unnamed official sources cited by multiple outlets, the Pakistani team includes a senior ISI official from the agency’s Afghanistan desk, the Director General of Military Operations, and a high-ranking official from the Foreign Ministry.

The talks, now in their second round, are being held in Istanbul following a week of border clashes earlier this month that left dozens dead and hundreds injured along the border.

The Taliban, for their part, have sent a delegation led by Haji Najib, the deputy minister of interior, to represent their side. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the visit in a post on X, saying that the trip follows an initial agreement signed in Doha last week and that the Istanbul round would focus on “remaining issues.”

That initial agreement — brokered by Qatar and Turkey — resulted in a ceasefire commitment, with both sides pledging to refrain from hostile actions and to not support groups engaged in cross-border violence, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant organization long accused of launching attacks on Pakistani forces from Afghan soil.

While the Taliban deny offering sanctuary to TTP fighters, Pakistan has repeatedly accused them of doing little to curb their movement. Islamabad sees the TTP as one of its most pressing national security threats and has pushed the Taliban leadership in Kabul to take more concrete action.

The inclusion of military and intelligence officials in Pakistan’s negotiating team underlines the seriousness of the talks and the degree to which security — not just diplomacy — is driving Islamabad’s approach. Analysts say the presence of the ISI and army officers signals that Pakistan’s military establishment is taking direct control of negotiations, a shift from previous talks handled primarily by civilian officials.

In recent weeks, multiple border crossings have been shut down, halting trade and stranding thousands of travelers and commercial vehicles. Business leaders on both sides have warned that prolonged closures could inflict severe economic damage.

The outcome of the Istanbul talks may determine whether the ceasefire holds or collapses under the weight of conflicting national interests, growing distrust, and the complex security dynamics along one of South Asia’s most volatile frontiers