Kabul, Nov 5 (NationPress) A delegation from Afghanistan, under the leadership of intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq, is set to journey to Turkey for a significant round of discussions with Pakistan scheduled for Thursday, as reported by local media on Wednesday.

The talks will address the ongoing border tensions, according to Afghanistan's prominent news outlet Khaama Press. The third installment of peace negotiations, taking place in Istanbul on Thursday, is being facilitated by Turkey and Qatar with the aim of alleviating the strain between the two nations.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, confirmed via state media that the delegation would depart later on Wednesday, emphasizing Afghanistan's commitment to maintaining communication with Pakistan.

Prior discussions between the delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan occurred in Doha and Istanbul, but the second round of negotiations concluded without any notable advancements due to divergent views on cross-border militant activities.

Pakistan has consistently accused the Taliban administration of supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, demanding written assurances from Kabul to halt such factions from operating on Afghan territory.

Experts suggest that the upcoming talks in Istanbul could be pivotal in determining if the two countries can restore trust and devise effective mechanisms for managing border security and counterterrorism collaboration.

Last week, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid indicated that the civilian government of Pakistan aspires to foster relations with Afghanistan based on shared interests; however, the military is obstructing these efforts.

According to Mujahid, factions within Pakistan's military are working to undermine relations between the two nations, as reported by Tolo News referencing Khyber TV. He remarked, "Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, visited Kabul and had optimistic discussions with Afghan officials, yet during the same timeframe, Pakistan conducted attacks on Afghan territory. While the civilian government seeks to enhance relations, the military jeopardizes them."

He mentioned that traders from both countries are suffering losses due to Pakistan's closure of crossings along the Durand Line, asserting that such matters should be separated from political discussions. Mujahid recalled that ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan were robust during Imran Khan's tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Zabihullah urged Pakistan to share intelligence regarding terrorist activities occurring on Afghan soil so that appropriate actions can be undertaken. He stated, "The Pakistani side expects us to prevent incidents from occurring within Pakistan, but that is beyond our capabilities. The Islamic Emirate does not wish for any insecurity in Pakistan and remains dedicated to ensuring that no threats emerge from Afghan territory."

This statement follows an escalation of tensions after Pakistani forces executed cross-border operations in Afghanistan and the unsuccessful negotiations between the two nations' delegations in Turkey.