Istanbul Talks Collapse as Pakistan–Afghanistan Border Violence Escalates

Istanbul talks collapse as cross-border violence surges

Peace negotiations in Istanbul between Pakistan and Afghanistan ended without agreement on Saturday, with both sides blaming one another for the breakdown of talks meant to ease mounting border tensions and preserve a fragile ceasefire.

Tensions have risen sharply in recent weeks after deadly clashes along the frontier that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians. The violence followed explosions in Kabul on Oct. 9 that Afghanistan's Taliban government blamed on Pakistani drone strikes and vowed to retaliate for. A Qatar-brokered ceasefire on Oct. 19 reduced immediate fighting but remains fragile.

Afghan response: Afghanistan's government spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said Pakistan's demands in Istanbul were "unreasonable" and that negotiations are now at a standstill. Speaking from Kandahar, Mujahid emphasized that Afghanistan does not seek regional insecurity or war but asserted the right to defend its sovereignty if attacked. He reiterated that Afghanistan "will not allow anyone to use its territory against another country, nor permit actions that undermine its sovereignty or security."

Pakistani position: Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the talks were over and the Pakistani delegation was returning home with "no plan for any future meetings." He added that Pakistan would maintain the ceasefire "as long as it is not violated from the Afghan side," and accused Kabul of sheltering the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group blamed for many attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. Kabul denies harboring or directing TTP operations.

The Istanbul round, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, was the third set of talks since the Taliban regained power in 2021 and had been viewed as a key diplomatic effort to defuse escalation. Officials reported that negotiations stalled late Friday with no tangible breakthroughs.

Recent clashes and claims: Afghan officials reported cross-border clashes that killed four civilians and wounded five others during the negotiations. Earlier this month, Pakistan said it conducted airstrikes on alleged TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan, claiming dozens of insurgents were killed; Afghan authorities disputed this, saying civilians were among the dead. Afghanistan also accused Pakistan of strikes on Afghan positions that killed 58 soldiers, while Pakistan's military acknowledged 23 troop fatalities.

Humanitarian and economic impact: Since Oct. 12 Pakistan has closed its border crossings with Afghanistan, reopening the main Torkham crossing partially to allow stranded refugees to return. The shutdown has disrupted vital trade and transit routes, leaving hundreds of trucks backed up and cutting off a key artery between South and Central Asia. Alongside the closures, Pakistan has intensified a campaign to deport undocumented foreigners — mostly Afghans — and authorities say more than one million Afghan nationals have been repatriated since 2023.

Despite intense diplomacy and mediation by Turkey and Qatar, negotiators left Istanbul without a written agreement and with prospects for a fourth round uncertain.

By: The Associated Press. Abdul Qahar Afghan contributed from Kabul.