Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to resume peace talks next week in Istanbul, with a ceasefire remaining in effect until then. Turkey’s foreign ministry confirmed late Thursday that a high-level meeting is scheduled for November 6, 2025, to discuss the modalities of the truce.
The resumption of negotiations, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, follows the deadliest clashes between the two nations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Violence escalated after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan, resulting in more than 70 people killed and hundreds wounded.
Details of the Renewed Talks
The announcement marks a quick turnaround after Pakistan had declared the negotiations had collapsed just one day earlier. The Turkish foreign ministry statement noted:
“All parties have agreed to continue the ceasefire. The modalities of its implementation will be examined and decided at a high-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6, 2025.”
Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV and Afghanistan’s state-run broadcaster RTA both indicated the talks were likely to resume earlier Thursday. RTA attributed the prior breakdown of the talks to “the unreasonable demands of the Pakistani side.” Afghan officials have not made any public comments regarding the resumption.
Core Conflict and Leaders’ Statements
Relations between the two neighbors, who share a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) frontier, have been severely strained primarily over security issues.
Pakistan’s Allegations: Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it claims uses Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks.
Taliban’s Stance: The Taliban government consistently denies these allegations. Addressing the tensions, Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani stressed on Thursday that Afghans “do not want war,” but affirmed that “defending the territory is one of the priorities.” He added a warning to Pakistan: “We are Muslims, brothers, neighbours, but some (in Pakistan), consciously or unconsciously, are playing with fire and war.”
Pakistani Warning: Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously warned that “Any terrorist attack or suicide bombing inside Pakistan will give you the bitter taste of such misadventures.”
Humanitarian and Economic Impact
The recent conflict has exacted a heavy toll on civilians and commerce.
Casualties: The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that the violence killed at least 50 Afghan civilians and wounded 447 others in one week. Pakistan’s military reported 23 personnel were killed and 29 wounded on October 12.
Border Closure: Despite the agreed-upon ceasefire, the border has been closed for over two weeks, crippling local economies. Traders on both sides expressed frustration over the situation, with an Afghan cloth trader noting that “Our nation is tired and their nation is also tired,” and a Pakistani spare parts trader echoing that “Trade suffers greatly. Both countries face losses.”
Pakistan And Afghanistan Agree To Resume Peace Talks In Istanbul
