Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have entered a critical phase, with negotiators from both sides meeting for a third consecutive day in Istanbul, Turkey, in an effort to quell one of the region’s most dangerous flashpoints. The high-stakes discussions, mediated by Turkey and supported by Qatar, follow a series of deadly border clashes that have left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead, and have threatened to spiral into a wider conflict.
The urgency surrounding these talks cannot be overstated. As reported by Associated Press and Reuters, the recent violence marks the worst escalation between the two neighbors since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The situation became so dire that U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on October 26, 2025, pledged to resolve the crisis “very quickly.” Trump’s offer to mediate came as both Pakistani and Afghan delegations struggled to bridge their differences in Istanbul. “I’ll get that solved very quickly, I know them both. I have no doubt we are going to get that done quickly,” Trump told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
The most recent round of violence erupted after a Pakistani airstrike in Kabul reportedly targeted the leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group ideologically aligned with but distinct from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban. In retaliation, the Taliban launched attacks on Pakistani military posts along the 2,600-kilometer border. The fallout was immediate and severe: Pakistan’s military reported on October 26 that five of its soldiers and 25 TTP fighters were killed in clashes near the border, according to Geo News and DW. The Pakistani military’s media wing, ISPR, stated that Afghan militants had attempted to cross the border at two locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, casting doubt on the Afghan interim government’s intentions regarding cross-border terrorism.
“The timing cast doubts on intentions of interim Afghan government with regards to addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil,” the ISPR said, urging the Taliban to fulfill its obligations under the Doha Agreement and deny the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.
The violence has not only taken a human toll but also paralyzed commerce. All border crossings between the two countries have been shut for two weeks, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded and trade at a standstill. For communities living along the border, the stakes are high: they await the outcome of these talks with a mix of hope and anxiety, as any failure could prolong their hardship.
The Istanbul negotiations, mediated by Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, have focused on two main goals: establishing a joint monitoring mechanism to curb militant movement across the border and facilitating smoother trade. According to Radio Pakistan, both sides have also discussed the possibility of a long-term political framework to stabilize their fraught relationship.
Yet, the talks have been anything but smooth. Pakistani officials, speaking anonymously to Geo News and Associated Press, accused the Afghan Taliban delegation of taking an “illogical and detached” stance on key security issues, especially regarding cooperation against cross-border militancy. “Patronage of terrorists is unacceptable,” one official emphasized, underscoring Islamabad’s demand for “concrete and verifiable” action against the TTP, which has stepped up attacks since the Taliban’s takeover in Kabul.
Pakistan’s position has been described by its negotiators as “logical, firm, and vital for peace.” The officials said their demands are “well-reasoned and legitimate,” and even Turkey, as the host nation, has acknowledged that Pakistan’s stance is “fair and justified.” Pakistan has reportedly presented “clear, evidence-based and solution-oriented” demands, urging Kabul to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent militant infiltration. “The Pakistani delegation’s position remains logical, firm, and vital for peace,” one official told Geo News.
The Afghan side, for its part, has pushed back against these accusations. A Taliban delegate to the talks dismissed as “false” the suggestion that the group was obstructing progress. “Overall the meeting is going well and we discussed multiple issues in a friendly environment,” the delegate told Reuters. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated this sentiment on Afghanistan’s state broadcaster RTA, stating, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supports dialogue and believes that problems and issues can be resolved through dialogue.”
Despite the diplomatic language, tensions remain high. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stark warning over the weekend, telling Radio Pakistan that failure to reach an agreement in Istanbul could lead to “open war.” Asif added that while he believes Afghanistan wants peace, Islamabad cannot accept any tolerance or shelter for militants targeting its territory. “Any tolerance or shelter for militants targeting Pakistan will not be acceptable,” Pakistani officials warned, according to Geo News.
The Taliban, meanwhile, deny harboring the TTP or allowing attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil. This ongoing dispute over the presence and activities of militant groups remains the core sticking point in the negotiations. The Pakistani side insists that any peace deal must include Kabul’s commitment to act against the TTP, while the Taliban delegation has reportedly submitted a written response to Islamabad’s proposals, though details have not been made public.
Turkey, as the mediator, is striving to keep the discussions “productive, fruitful and result oriented,” according to Pakistani officials. The Turkish government has played a crucial role in facilitating dialogue, with its intelligence chief personally involved in bridging gaps between the two delegations.
For now, the talks have reached a stalemate, with progress hinging entirely on the Taliban’s attitude and readiness to cooperate in good faith. The expectation was that a joint statement would be released before midnight on the final day of talks, but as of late Monday, no such announcement had been made. Both sides remain under international pressure to find a peaceful solution, with the specter of renewed violence looming large if negotiations collapse.
As the world watches, the outcome of these Istanbul talks will have far-reaching implications—not just for Pakistan and Afghanistan, but for the stability of the wider region. For border communities, traders, and the families of those caught in the crossfire, the hope is that dialogue will prevail over war. But with trust in short supply and tempers running high, the road to lasting peace remains fraught with peril.
