Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime have resumed border truce talks in Istanbul today, aiming to ease rising tensions following last month’s deadly border clashes. The discussions are being held under Turkish mediation and are seen as a crucial step toward restoring stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The latest round of border truce talks comes just days after both sides reached a temporary understanding to maintain a ceasefire. The earlier discussions, held from October 25 to 31, ended abruptly when Pakistan withdrew, calling the Taliban delegation’s stance on cross-border terrorism “unacceptable.” However, Turkish mediators later convinced Islamabad to return to the negotiating table, leading to a short-lived breakthrough.
According to a joint statement released by Turkiye’s foreign ministry after the previous talks, both parties agreed to continue the ceasefire and set up a monitoring and verification system to track any violations. Officials familiar with the ongoing negotiations said the current meetings focus on transforming this temporary arrangement into a lasting peace framework.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that a Pakistani delegation had departed for Istanbul ahead of the talks. He stressed that Afghanistan must “act wisely” to maintain regional stability, adding that negotiations would only succeed if both sides showed genuine commitment.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military has reiterated its firm position on border security. DG ISPR Lt General Ahmed Sharif stated earlier this week that any external aggression would trigger a “strong and immediate” response. He also noted that several cross-border militants, many of them Afghan nationals, had been neutralised in recent counterterrorism operations.
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have remained tense since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan accuses the Afghan regime of providing shelter to militants behind attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan—allegations that Kabul continues to deny.
For now, the border truce talks in Istanbul represent a renewed effort to maintain an uneasy peace. Officials on both sides admit that long-term progress will depend on trust, verification, and concrete actions against militants.
In other news read more about: Pakistan Holds Key Talks with Afghan Taliban in Doha to Address Cross-Border Tensions
