On a tense Tuesday in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood before the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference and delivered a message that rang out across the region: peace in South Asia, he said, hinges on Afghanistan's willingness to curb terrorist groups operating from its soil—most notably the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). His words, reported by The Express Tribune, came just days after high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul between Pakistan and Afghanistan crumbled without agreement, leaving a fragile ceasefire and simmering tensions in their wake.
The theme of the conference—"Peace, Security and Development"—could hardly have been more apt. For months, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been a flashpoint, with deadly clashes, drone strikes, and diplomatic rancor threatening to upend the uneasy calm that has prevailed since the Taliban swept to power in Kabul in 2021. According to News18, both sides emerged from the Istanbul negotiations trading blame for the collapse, each accusing the other of intransigence and unreasonable demands.
Prime Minister Sharif minced no words in his address: "Afghanistan must understand that lasting peace can only be realised by reining in Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory," he declared. He stressed that Pakistan has always preferred dialogue and diplomacy as the route to peace, but made it clear that the true value of peace is best understood when confronted with the harsh realities of conflict. "The true value of peace is most profoundly understood when we are confronted with the conflicts that continue to plague our world," he said, reflecting on the region's long struggle with instability.
Sharif’s remarks also referenced the recent border clashes that have left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. He described Islamabad's response as "firm and decisive, teaching an unforgettable lesson," underscoring the seriousness with which Pakistan views the threat from across its western frontier. These border incidents were set off in October 2025, after explosions in Kabul that Afghanistan’s Taliban government claimed were the result of Pakistani drone strikes—an allegation that only deepened the mistrust between the two neighbors.
Meanwhile, the Istanbul peace talks, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, were supposed to offer a path forward. But as News18 revealed, the discussions stalled over one issue: Pakistan’s insistence that the Taliban’s Supreme Leader issue a religious edict, or fatwa, condemning the TTP. Mullah Najib, the head of the Afghan delegation and Deputy Interior Minister, recounted at a press conference in Kabul, "If Pakistan wants a fatwa, they should send us a written request." He further explained, "We told them that he is an Amir, not a Mufti. He issues orders, not fatwas… Afghan Taliban have a Dar al-Ifta (religious authority) for that. The Pakistani government can send a written request for a fatwa. Our Dar al-Ifta will consider and review Pakistan’s request."
This procedural detail may seem minor, but it proved enough to derail the negotiations. Afghan officials, according to News18, viewed Pakistan's demand as overreaching. Zabiullah Mujahid, the Afghan government spokesman, blamed Pakistan for the failure of the talks, stating, "Pakistan’s demands in the negotiations were unreasonable and the talks could not proceed, the meeting ended and the talks are at a standstill for now." He added pointedly, "We do not want insecurity in the region, and entering into war is not our first choice," but warned, "if war breaks out, we have the right to defend ourselves."
For its part, Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of sheltering the TTP—a group responsible for a sharp uptick in attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. Kabul, however, vigorously denies these charges, insisting that it does not allow its territory to be used against any other country. The TTP, while distinct from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, is closely allied with them and has grown bolder since the Taliban’s return to power, a reality that has only heightened Islamabad’s sense of vulnerability.
As the talks broke down, violence flared anew. The night before the negotiations collapsed, Afghan officials reported that four civilians had been killed and five others wounded in cross-border clashes—an ominous sign that the ceasefire, brokered by Qatar on October 19, 2025, remains perilously fragile. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News that "the talks are over" and that the Pakistani delegation was returning home with "no plan for any future meetings." He did, however, note that the ceasefire would remain in place "as long as it is not violated from the Afghan side."
Prime Minister Sharif, ever the statesman, took a broader view. He praised Turkey and Qatar for their efforts to keep the peace talks afloat, and he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to defending its security interests. "A peaceful Afghanistan holds the key to regional connectivity, peace, and prosperity," he said, echoing a sentiment that has long animated Pakistan’s foreign policy. "This peace has remained elusive for decades. However, Pakistan has never lost hope. We believe in a peaceful neighbourhood and have been striving hard for this purpose."
Sharif also touched on Pakistan’s military confrontation with India earlier in May 2025, describing the armed forces’ performance as "remarkable" and "outstanding on the battlefield." Yet, he was quick to pivot back to the need for lasting peace, saying, "Having won the war, we need to win peace, through sincere and honest efforts." He pointed to Pakistan’s active engagement at global and regional forums—including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organisation, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation—as evidence of the country’s commitment to upholding peace and security.
But the shadow of the TTP looms large over all these diplomatic efforts. The group’s resurgence is a source of deep anxiety in Islamabad, and Pakistan’s leaders have made it clear that they will not tolerate cross-border terrorism. The breakdown of the Istanbul talks, and the inability to reach consensus on even basic mechanisms for monitoring and preventing such attacks, has left the situation precarious.
Afghanistan’s leaders, for their part, are adamant that their sovereignty must be respected. Mujahid, the Afghan spokesman, said in a statement, "Afghanistan will not allow anyone to use its territory against another country, nor permit actions that undermine its sovereignty or security." He also argued that the TTP’s origins predate the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, suggesting that Pakistan is seeking to shift blame for a problem with deep historical roots.
As winter sets in along the mountains and plains that straddle the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the region finds itself at another crossroads. The ceasefire, though holding for now, is under constant strain. Both sides remain wary, their mutual suspicions amplified by recent bloodshed and the collapse of talks that many had hoped would mark a turning point.
For now, the fate of peace in South Asia hangs in the balance, hostage to the actions of militants and the calculations of leaders on both sides of the border. Whether the next chapter will bring reconciliation or renewed conflict remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the stakes could hardly be higher.
