Pakistan Resumes Talks with Afghan Taliban in Istanbul After Turkish Mediation

Pakistan has agreed to resume talks with the Afghan Taliban regime in Istanbul at the request of mediator Turkiye, giving peace “another chance” after earlier negotiations collapsed over Kabul’s refusal to curb cross-border terrorism, sources said on Thursday.

The Pakistani delegation, which had been preparing to fly home following the breakdown of four-day talks, has extended its stay in Istanbul to continue discussions, sources said. The renewed negotiations will center on Pakistan’s core demand that Afghanistan take “clear, verifiable and effective action” against terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from its soil.

Talks revive after breakdown

Despite mediation efforts by Turkiye and Qatar, the earlier round of talks failed to produce a breakthrough as the Taliban regime refused to provide verifiable guarantees that Afghan territory would not be used for attacks against Pakistan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Wednesday that the dialogue had ended “without a workable solution,” even after Islamabad presented evidence-backed demands for counterterrorism cooperation.

Pakistan has long accused the Taliban rulers of harboring militant groups responsible for a surge in terror attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since 2021. Kabul, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Mediators step in

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Geo News that Pakistan’s delegation had been ready to leave Istanbul before Turkiye and Qatar intervened, urging both sides to give peace another try. “Our delegation had reached the airport last night to return, but Qatar and Turkey asked us to give the talks another chance,” Asif said. “Efforts are underway to engage the Kabul delegation and explore a viable path forward.”

He said the Qatari defence minister and the head of Turkish intelligence were actively facilitating the process. “If Kabul changes its stance under the guidance of these friendly nations and stops supporting terrorists, that would be a crucial step,” Asif added.

The defence minister warned that progress would depend entirely on Kabul’s sincerity. “If India-backed terrorism or TTP support continues, nothing can be achieved,” he said, adding that any attempts to destabilize Pakistan would be “met decisively.”

Pakistan’s Deep strike warning to Afghanistan

Just a day earlier, Asif issued a stark warning that Pakistan would conduct airstrikes deep inside Afghanistan if terrorist groups continued to launch attacks from across the border. In a post on X, he said Pakistan had “borne your treachery and mockery for too long, but no more,” cautioning that any future attack would “give you the bitter taste of such misadventures.”

He further claimed Pakistan could “obliterate the Taliban regime” without using “even a fraction” of its arsenal if provoked. The minister accused the Taliban leadership of sustaining a “war economy” to maintain its grip on power while pushing Afghanistan toward another conflict.

Pak-Afghan Rising Tensions

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated sharply in recent weeks. Earlier this month, unprovoked cross-border firing by Taliban forces on October 12 triggered heavy clashes, leaving 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred and over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants killed, according to security sources. Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes reportedly targeted terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul.

The hostilities paused after Pakistan accepted Kabul’s request for a temporary ceasefire on October 17. The two sides later met in Doha for talks mediated by Qatar, followed by the Istanbul round hosted by Turkiye beginning October 25.

While the talks remain inconclusive, Islamabad’s decision to stay engaged — under Turkish mediation — signals cautious optimism that regional diplomacy might yet avert another cycle of violence.