Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to resume peace talks in Istanbul after earlier rounds failed to end a surge in cross-border tensions that recently spiralled into deadly clashes.
“Pakistan has once again stressed that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” a security official said on condition of anonymity. “We appreciate the constructive role of our hosts and remain committed to seeking a peaceful resolution in good faith.”
The discussions follow a weeklong border conflict earlier this month that left casualties on both sides. Mediation by Qatar and Turkiye produced a ceasefire signed on October 19 in Doha by the defence ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but follow-up talks in Istanbul stalled over Islamabad’s demand that Kabul crack down on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, emerged in 2007 and has waged a violent insurgency against the Pakistani state. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering TTP fighters, as well as groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and ISIL’s affiliate in Khorasan Province (ISKP), charges Kabul denies.
The Afghan Taliban maintains that the TTP issue is an internal Pakistani matter. It also considers ISKP a sworn enemy.
After the previous round collapsed, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a sharp warning on social media, accusing Kabul’s leadership of “blindly pushing Afghanistan into yet another conflict” to preserve “its war economy.” He cautioned that the Taliban “have probably misread our resolve and courage.”
India-Pakistan tensions have long complicated regional dynamics, with both countries accusing each other of supporting armed proxies. Meanwhile, ties between New Delhi and Kabul have warmed recently, capped by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India earlier this month.
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