Pak-Afghan peace talks collapse again amid renewed border tensions
Istanbul,Hopes for peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan dimmed again after talks in Turkey ended without progress. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that negotiations in Istanbul had reached a deadlock. However, Kabul has not yet confirmed the claim.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also declared that the talks were “over.” He warned that the ceasefire along the border would continue only if Afghanistan avoided violations. Speaking to Pakistan’s Geo News, Asif said, “As we speak, the talks are over.”
The collapse in dialogue followed new allegations from Afghanistan. An Afghan official accused Pakistani forces of killing four civilians during border clashes earlier in the week.
The setback came just a week after Turkey mediated an agreement between both sides. The Istanbul statement then said that “all parties agreed to continue the ceasefire” and to form a “monitoring and verification mechanism” to maintain peace. The next round of talks was scheduled for November 6. However, Pakistan now claims that the Taliban failed to honor its 2021 Doha commitments to curb terrorism and cross-border militancy.
Minister Tarar stressed that Pakistan preferred peace but would act to protect its citizens if provoked. He told reporters that Islamabad “will not support any step by the Taliban government that goes against the Afghan people or neighboring countries.”
Tensions between the two nations have been growing since October. The clashes began after explosions in Kabul, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. In response, Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani military posts near the border. They claimed to have killed 58 soldiers, though Islamabad confirmed only 23 deaths.
The violence prompted both sides to announce a ceasefire, though each claimed the other had requested it. Peace proved short-lived. Within days, reports of Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan surfaced. The strikes killed at least ten people, reigniting hostilities.
On Thursday night, gunfire again broke out along the Chaman border in southwest Pakistan. Security forces from both sides exchanged fire briefly before the situation calmed. Officials reported no casualties.
The renewed confrontation has raised fears of escalating instability in the region. Analysts say that both countries are using border tensions to assert political strength at home. Turkey’s mediation had sparked cautious optimism last week, but the latest stalemate has dashed those hopes.
Diplomatic sources in Istanbul confirmed that Turkey will continue efforts to bring both sides back to the table. However, Pakistan’s firm stance and Kabul’s silence suggest that mistrust remains deep.
Regional observers warn that the failure of talks could worsen cross-border militancy and disrupt trade routes between South and Central Asia. For now, Pakistan insists on stronger guarantees from the Taliban, while Afghanistan demands respect for its sovereignty.
The fragile truce still holds, but its future depends on whether both governments can return to dialogue before another clash reignites the border conflict.
