Pakistan, Afghan Taliban Resume Peace Talks in Istanbul Under Mediation by Turkiye and Qatar

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have resumed peace talks in Istanbul, marking the third round of negotiations aimed at easing months of heightened border tensions and restoring regional stability. The dialogue, jointly mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, follows two earlier rounds — one in Doha and another in Istanbul — that ended without achieving a breakthrough toward a long-term peace agreement.

According to official sources, the Pakistani delegation includes senior military officials and high-ranking members of the civil bureaucracy, led by Lt Gen Asim Malik, Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Afghan side is represented by Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban’s intelligence chief, as confirmed by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Afghanistan’s state broadcaster RTA.

The renewed talks come amid a fragile ceasefire reached in Doha on October 19, following intense cross-border clashes that erupted during the night of October 11–12, 2025. Those attacks, which Pakistan described as “unprovoked,” saw Afghan Taliban fighters targeting Pakistani border positions, sharply escalating tensions between the two neighbors.

Despite the temporary truce, efforts to secure a lasting peace have stalled due to the Taliban’s unwillingness to act decisively against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of using Afghan territory to launch attacks on its security forces.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed cautious optimism ahead of the latest round of talks, telling reporters that Islamabad is pursuing a “one-point agenda” — urging Kabul to curb militant activity along the shared frontier. “We hope that wisdom prevails and peace is restored in the region,” he said, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution.

Observers view these Istanbul talks as a crucial test of both sides’ willingness to rebuild trust and cooperate on security. Mediators from Türkiye and Qatar are expected to continue facilitating dialogue, emphasizing the importance of restraint and mutual respect in overcoming the impasse that has strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in recent months.