Istanbul, October 28, 2025: A last-ditch effort is underway to salvage the faltering talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as negotiators in Istanbul struggle to overcome the Afghan Taliban’s “stubborn stance” on key security issues, according to Pakistani security sources on Tuesday.
The second round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks began in Istanbul on Saturday, following the Doha discussions on October 18–19 that were jointly mediated by Qatar and Türkiye. The Doha round had led to a breakthrough — a permanent ceasefire agreement — after days of intense border clashes and Pakistani strikes on Gul Bahadur group camps inside Afghan territory.
That agreement, which extended an initial 48-hour truce, also included a commitment to reconvene in Istanbul to work out a long-term peace mechanism aimed at ensuring stability along the border and addressing terrorism concerns.
According to security officials, the Istanbul round has been marked by marathon sessions, with talks lasting up to 18 hours on Monday. “During these discussions, the Afghan Taliban delegation initially agreed to Pakistan’s logical and legitimate demand for credible action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist elements,” one official familiar with the process said.
However, officials claim the Afghan position shifted abruptly following “instructions received from Kabul.” They described the guidance from Afghan authorities as “illogical and illegal,” blaming it for derailing progress at a crucial stage.
“Despite the Taliban’s rigid position, efforts are still being made to resolve this issue through logic and dialogue,” the source added. “The process is now heading toward what could be the final round.”
Sources close to the closed-door discussions said that while most agenda points had been agreed upon, the main sticking point remained the mechanism for verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, particularly the banned TTP.
The mood among participants had been largely positive earlier in the day, with reports of “encouraging progress” and “serious engagement” from both delegations. However, optimism faded by nightfall as the Afghan delegation reportedly refused to put any commitments in writing — especially those involving guarantees to end support for the TTP.
“We were hoping to finalize a joint document and issue a statement soon,” one Pakistani negotiator said. “But that goal still remains out of reach.”
A senior Pakistani official noted that while mediators from Türkiye and Qatar “understand Pakistan’s concerns,” decision-makers in Kabul and Kandahar appear unwilling to commit to firm assurances. “It’s a difficult phase,” the official admitted, reflecting growing frustration as the talks entered a deadlock.
Members of the Afghan delegation, however, maintained that tensions between the two countries serve no one’s interests. “We are hopeful that these talks will yield a positive outcome,” one Afghan participant told reporters.
Mediators echoed that cautious optimism. “Even if the talks don’t produce an immediate breakthrough, the fact that both sides have remained engaged for three consecutive days is significant,” a mediator remarked. “It shows that neither wants the process to collapse.”
The current round follows weeks of heightened tensions, including cross-border attacks and mutual recriminations. Pakistani officials have repeatedly warned that continued “patronage of terrorist groups” by elements within the Afghan Taliban is unacceptable and poses a serious threat to regional peace.
As of Tuesday evening, negotiations in Istanbul were expected to continue into the night, with both sides under mounting pressure from mediators to find common ground before the process loses momentum.
