Diplomatic relations between Pakistan, the European Union, and Afghanistan have entered a critical phase as regional security concerns, humanitarian imperatives, and political calculations converge in late November 2025. At the heart of this complex web lies Afghanistan—its internal governance, its role in cross-border terrorism, and its impact on regional stability—alongside Pakistan’s evolving foreign policy and the European Union’s renewed engagement with South Asia.
On November 21, 2025, Brussels hosted the seventh round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, a high-level meeting co-chaired by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. According to Dawn and the official joint communiqué, both sides issued a unified call for a credible political process in Afghanistan, one that aligns with the UN-led Doha framework. The urgency was palpable: the two powers urged the Taliban to fulfill their international commitments, especially regarding counterterrorism and the protection of women, girls, and vulnerable communities. The EU and Pakistan, as the statement emphasized, are “concerned over Afghanistan’s worsening socio-economic conditions” and see a peaceful, stable, and self-reliant Afghanistan as essential for regional peace.
This message, as reported by The Times of India, took on added significance given the backdrop of heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban. October had seen cross-border incidents that left the region on edge. The EU praised Pakistan for its decades-long role in hosting millions of Afghan refugees and insisted that any returns must be “safe and dignified in line with international norms.” The dialogue also touched on broader cooperation—trade, migration, climate change, education, and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy—signaling a willingness to deepen ties across multiple fronts. The eighth round of talks is set to take place in Islamabad, a sign that the conversation is far from over.
But the Afghanistan question is not the only item on Pakistan’s diplomatic agenda. As The Times of India further detailed, the Brussels talks also addressed the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Both sides welcomed the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict, a plan advanced by President Donald Trump and enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Central to this plan is the creation of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), a mission designed to secure borders, stabilize civilian life, manage humanitarian corridors, and facilitate demilitarization in Gaza.
For Islamabad, the prospect of joining the ISF has become a matter of intense debate. The mission is not a routine peacekeeping operation; it is intended as a linchpin for future Palestinian statehood and a test of international resolve. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was unequivocal in his support: “If Pakistan has to participate in it, then I think it will be a matter of pride for us. We will be proud to do it,” he stated on October 28, 2025. Pakistan’s military, with its extensive experience in UN peacekeeping and its reputation in the Arab world, is seen by many as a natural leader for the ISF. The country’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause only strengthens its claim.
The ISF’s operational details, however, remain a point of caution. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed rightly flagged concerns about the mission’s command structure, the authority of its proposed Board of Peace, and the precise rules of engagement. “These are not trivial matters,” he noted, underscoring that the success or failure of the ISF will likely hinge on these specifics. Pakistan’s careful approach, therefore, is not hesitation but what many observers see as prudent strategic foresight.
Pakistan’s diplomatic activity has not gone unnoticed. In October 2025, Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir joined President Trump and other world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the signing of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The event was marked by mutual praise, with Trump referring to Munir as his “favorite field marshal.” Meanwhile, Pakistan has been strengthening ties with key Arab capitals—Jordan, Cairo, Riyadh—and has signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia. These moves underscore Islamabad’s intention to play a leadership role in the Muslim world, particularly in moments of crisis.
Yet, the diplomatic chessboard remains crowded. On November 25, 2025, just days after the Brussels dialogue, a Pakistani diplomat—Consul General Shafqatullah Khan—met with Nangarhar Governor Mullah Muhammad Naeem Akhund in Afghanistan. The meeting, reported by Dawn and Afghanistan’s Bakhtar news agency, came hours after a suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar killed three personnel. The attack, quickly neutralized by security forces, highlighted the persistent threat of terrorism that haunts the region.
This high-level contact was the first in months and signaled a tentative thaw in bilateral relations. Governor Akhund, a key Taliban leader and confidant of Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, expressed a “constructive stance towards good relations, cooperation, and safeguarding common interests with the region, neighboring countries, and other countries of the world.” The meeting covered issues of ethnicity, language, religion, culture, and the daily lives of ordinary people, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and systematic coordination.
Despite these conciliatory gestures, the reality on the ground is fraught. Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of allowing terrorist groups to use Afghan soil for attacks across the border—a charge the Taliban deny. Earlier rounds of dialogue, including talks in Turkey and Qatar, failed to produce a lasting solution. After the third round of negotiations in early November, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that talks addressing cross-border terrorism were “over” and had “entered an indefinite phase.” The Afghan Taliban subsequently suspended trade ties with Islamabad, and Pakistan closed its border for trade soon after the October clashes.
Adding further context, Al Jazeera published a photo gallery on November 24, 2025, titled “History Illustrated: Afghanistan, India and Pakistan: A trinity of troubles.” The gallery, using AI-generated graphics, provided historical insight into the intricate relationships and enduring tensions among these three neighbors. The images served as a stark reminder that today’s diplomatic and security dilemmas are rooted in decades—if not centuries—of shared history and unresolved grievances.
As Pakistan weighs its options—whether to commit troops to Gaza, how to engage with the Taliban, and how to manage relations with the EU—one thing is clear: the choices made in Islamabad, Brussels, and Kabul over the coming weeks will reverberate far beyond South Asia. The stakes are high, and the world is watching.
