Istanbul: Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan entered their third day on Monday in Istanbul, but officials from both sides said no agreement had been reached by the end of the day.
The negotiations come amid heightened border tensions following deadly clashes that have killed dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. They also follow US President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to help resolve the dispute “very quickly.”
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed to local media that discussions were ongoing without any breakthrough so far. Pakistani officials, meanwhile, said talks were continuing but described the process as slow, with the Afghan delegation frequently consulting authorities in Kabul and offering “no encouraging response.”
The dialogue is being hosted by Turkey and facilitated by Qatar. Officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aim was to strengthen the fragile ceasefire and reach a broader peace framework.
Even as talks continued, Pakistan’s army announced Sunday that it had killed 25 militants while repelling two major infiltration attempts along the border. Five Pakistani soldiers were also reported killed in the clashes. The casualty figures could not be independently verified due to restricted access to the area.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Trump said he was aware of the ongoing peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan and vowed to help resolve the issue swiftly.
Earlier this year, Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing tensions with India during a military standoff that nearly escalated into open conflict.
According to Pakistani security officials, Islamabad’s delegation in Istanbul presented its final position to the Afghan side, stressing that “the patronage of terrorists is unacceptable.” Pakistan also demanded that Kabul take “concrete and verifiable” action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Officials said Pakistan had provided evidence of cross-border attacks originating from Afghan territory, and Turkey was making efforts to keep the discussions “productive and result-oriented.”
“The Pakistani delegation’s position remains logical, firm, and essential for peace,” one official said, adding that even host nations acknowledged Pakistan’s demands as “reasonable and justified.”
Meanwhile, trade and border communities on both sides are hoping for a breakthrough, as key crossings remain closed for the second week, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying goods stranded.
Pakistan’s border areas have witnessed recurring violence since 1979, when the country became a front-line ally in the US-backed war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
