Afghanistan and Pakistan Extend Peace Talks in Istanbul as Tensions Simmer Along Border
- Rahaman Hadisur
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
Afghanistan and Pakistan officials are set to meet in Istanbul on Monday for a third consecutive day of peace talks after failing to secure a lasting truce, according to sources familiar with the matter. The discussions come amid renewed border clashes that have killed dozens in recent weeks, marking the most intense violence since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021.
The two nations reached a temporary ceasefire in Doha on October 19 following days of deadly skirmishes. The latest round of negotiations, mediated by Turkey, aims to establish a permanent peace framework, though progress has been slow as both sides maintain opposing positions on key issues.
Pakistani security officials have accused the Afghan Taliban of stalling the process, saying Islamabad will not compromise on its demand to end cross-border militancy. “No compromise is possible on our core demands related to terrorism,” one official said.
A Taliban representative, however, rejected claims of non-cooperation, saying talks were proceeding in a “friendly environment.” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reaffirmed the group’s support for dialogue, emphasizing that “problems and issues can be resolved through discussion.”
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has declined to comment on the current state of the talks, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Saturday that failure to reach a settlement could result in “open war.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his offer to mediate between the two sides, saying during a stop in Kuala Lumpur, “I’ll get that solved very quickly, I know them both.”
The tensions escalated earlier this month when Pakistan launched an airstrike in Kabul targeting the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, a militant faction separate from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban. In response, Taliban forces attacked several Pakistani military posts along the 2,600-kilometer border.
Recent clashes over the weekend left five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants dead, highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire and the urgency of a diplomatic breakthrough in Istanbul.
Comments