Pakistan is looking towards a fresh round of dialogue with the Afghan Taliban on November 6 with cautious optimism, even as a surge in cross-border terror attacks from Afghan territory continues to threaten national security, the Foreign Office revealed Friday.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi affirmed that despite ongoing security challenges, Islamabad remains committed to diplomacy. ‘Pakistan will continue to play its role in the reconciliation process and hopes for a constructive outcome from the upcoming talks,’ he stated.

The announcement follows the conclusion of a second round of negotiations in Istanbul, which ended Thursday evening. Originally planned for two days, the dialogue, which began on October 25, was extended to four as both sides engaged in serious efforts to find common ground.

Andrabi described Pakistan’s participation in the Istanbul talks as being conducted ‘with sincerity and a positive approach.’

However, the spokesperson underscored that Islamabad held constructive discussions without compromising on its ‘clear and consistent position that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.’

He reiterated that while Pakistan seeks no escalation in tensions, it expects the Taliban government to honor its international commitments and take ‘concrete and verifiable actions’ against militant groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

For the past four years, Pakistan has repeatedly urged Kabul to take decisive and effective action against terrorist outfits operating from its territory. ‘We have repeatedly provided verifiable information to the Taliban government regarding the presence of senior leadership of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan inside Afghanistan,’ Andrabi said.

He noted that despite repeated assurances from the Taliban, cross-border terror incidents have increased. The spokesperson also mentioned that in October, Pakistani border areas came under unprovoked attacks from Afghan soil, to which Pakistan responded ‘appropriately and effectively.’

While reaffirming a desire for peace, Andrabi asserted that ‘Pakistan will take every necessary step to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its people.’ He also conveyed Islamabad’s appreciation for the constructive roles played by Qatar and Trkiye in facilitating the dialogue.