Islamabad and Kabul meet in Istanbul to firm up truce

Afghan and Pakistani negotiators are meeting today in Istanbul to address security issues and establish a lasting ceasefire along their shared border after an outbreak of intense clashes.

The confrontation began two weeks ago following explosions in Kabul, which the Taliban government blamed on its Pakistani neighbour, launching a retaliatory offensive at the border.

Vowing a strong response, Islamabad then carried out "precision strikes" against armed groups on Afghan soil which are at the heart of the dispute, security sources said.

After further clashes both sides declared an initial 48-hour ceasefire which collapsed two days later, with Kabul blaming Islamabad.

A second truce took shape on Sunday following talks in Doha thanks to mediation by Qatar and Turkey, which appears to have held, although the terms remained unclear.

At Saturday's talks, negotiators are expected to detail the "mechanisms" for ensuring the return to stability that were announced in Doha.

The Afghan delegation, which left for Turkey on Friday, will be led by its deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib. Islamabad has not said who it is sending for the talks.

Facing a resurgence of attacks against its security forces, Islamabad has repeatedly accused its Afghan neighbour of "harbouring" groups it views as "terrorist", primarily the Pakistani Taliban, a charge Kabul denies.