Afghanistan and Pakistan to Resume Fragile Peace Talks in Istanbul as Border Tensions Escalate

In a renewed effort to defuse mounting hostilities, Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to restart peace talks in Istanbul, according to three diplomatic and security sources familiar with the matter. The discussions are expected to focus on restoring stability along the volatile border region, which has witnessed some of the deadliest clashes since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The decision to reconvene was reportedly made at the request of host nation Turkey, which has played a quiet but persistent mediating role between the two uneasy neighbors. Two of the sources confirmed that negotiation teams from both sides are already present in Istanbul, preparing for the next round of dialogue aimed at preventing a further breakdown of relations.

Islamabad’s Central Demand

For Pakistan, the talks are an opportunity to reiterate its long-standing security demand — that Afghanistan take decisive action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for dozens of cross-border attacks. Islamabad insists that the TTP operates freely from sanctuaries within Afghan territory, planning and launching assaults against Pakistani security forces and civilians.

A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Our message will be clear — Afghanistan must stop giving space to militants targeting Pakistan. We are not seeking conflict, but we cannot tolerate continued attacks on our soil.”

The Afghan Taliban government, however, rejects these accusations, maintaining that it does not support or control the Pakistani Taliban, who share ideological roots but function independently. Kabul’s stance has been consistent since 2021, arguing that Pakistan’s internal militancy issue cannot be resolved through cross-border blame.

Background of Escalation

The renewed diplomatic push comes after a month of intense violence along the 2,600-kilometer border, known as the Durand Line, which both nations have long disputed. The latest confrontation began earlier this month when Pakistan launched air strikes on several Afghan locations, including areas near Kabul, reportedly targeting the TTP leadership.

The Taliban retaliated with coordinated attacks on Pakistani military posts, sparking days of clashes that killed dozens on both sides. The fighting prompted the closure of key border crossings and halted trade, worsening humanitarian conditions for border communities already struggling with shortages of fuel, food, and medicine.

On October 19, a temporary ceasefire was brokered in Doha through mediation by Qatari and Turkish diplomats, but the truce quickly unraveled. Subsequent second-round talks in Istanbul failed to produce meaningful progress, as both sides stuck to entrenched positions. Despite the ceasefire, sporadic firefights and militant ambushes continued, with multiple fatalities reported on October 27 and 29.

Turkey’s Mediation and Regional Stakes

Turkey’s growing diplomatic involvement reflects its expanding role in South-Central Asian peacebuilding efforts. Ankara has maintained strong ties with both Islamabad and Kabul and is seen as one of the few nations with the leverage to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.

Analysts suggest that Turkey views these talks as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the region’s trade and energy corridors, particularly as tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border threaten connectivity projects linking Central and South Asia.

Persistent Challenges

The trust deficit between Islamabad and Kabul remains profound. Pakistan continues to view the Afghan Taliban as unwilling to confront groups hostile to its interests, while Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through repeated airspace incursions and border shelling.

Diplomatic observers caution that without tangible confidence-building measures — such as intelligence sharing, border monitoring, and joint anti-terror mechanisms — these Istanbul talks may struggle to produce lasting results.

As of Thursday, neither the Afghan Taliban administration nor Pakistan’s foreign office or military had issued an official statement on the latest round of talks. However, both capitals face mounting pressure from the international community to prevent a further slide into conflict.

The Istanbul dialogue, if successful, could mark a critical step toward reducing regional volatility and reopening vital trade routes between South and Central Asia. But given the history of mutual suspicion and the ongoing militant threat, any breakthrough is likely to be fragile and conditional on immediate de-escalation along the border.

For now, the eyes of the region remain fixed on Istanbul — where fragile diplomacy once again seeks to contain a border war that neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan can afford.