The second round of peace negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan—hosted by Turkey in Istanbul and facilitated by Qatar—ended in a stalemate, failing to produce a broader agreement by the end of the third day. The talks were intended to solidify a fragile ceasefire reached on October 19 and resolve mounting cross-border tensions.
The Sticking Point: Cross-Border Militancy
The primary point of friction is Pakistan’s demand for verifiable action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
- Pakistan’s Position: Islamabad stated its final position, insisting that “patronage of terrorists is unacceptable.” It demanded that Kabul take “concrete and verifiable” action against the TTP, which Pakistan accuses of using Afghan soil to launch attacks. Pakistani officials claimed their demands were “logical, well-reasoned, and legitimate,” and that they had shared “solid evidence” with the Afghan side.
- Afghan Response: Afghan media, quoting spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed the discussions were ongoing but had yielded no outcome. Pakistani officials noted the Afghan delegation was repeatedly consulting authorities in Kabul, suggesting a reluctance to concede to Pakistan’s demands.
Continued Violence and Economic Impact
The lack of diplomatic progress is reflected in the continued security and economic crises:
- Border Clashes: Even as delegations spoke in Istanbul, fighting continued. Pakistan’s army reported killing 25 militants while repelling “two major infiltration attempts” along the border, with five Pakistani soldiers also dying in the exchanges of fire.
- Border Closure: All key trade routes between the two countries have been shut for two weeks, leaving hundreds of commercial trucks stranded and severely impacting trade and border communities.
International Attention
The high-stakes negotiations drew international attention, with US President Donald Trump pledging to resolve the crisis “very quickly” while speaking at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
How would you like to use this information? Perhaps as a news report, or are you aiming for a more diplomatic summary?
