Three days of negotiations in Istanbul failed to lead to a breakthrough, but both sides insist the ceasefire remains in place.
Published October 28, 2025
The peace process between Pakistan and Afghanistan is mired in uncertainty after three days of talks in Istanbul reportedly failed to find a breakthrough.
State media from each country on Tuesday accused the other countries of failing to reach an agreement on a long-term ceasefire in Turkiye. The talks accelerated earlier this month after tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers over militants operating in the latter led to deadly cross-border hostilities.
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Dozens of people have been killed on both sides of the border in the deadliest fighting between the neighboring countries since the Taliban took power in 2021.
The negotiations were based on a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Turkiye. But progress toward long-term peace appears to be stalling.
It was not clear as of Tuesday afternoon whether the talks had ended or would continue into a fourth day. However, delegations from both countries reportedly remained in Istanbul.
The Associated Press, citing unnamed Pakistani security officials, reported that Turkish mediators were continuing efforts to break the deadlock and allow negotiations to resume.
Pakistan Television reported that “last-ditch efforts” were being made to resolve the issue.
However, Reuters reported that talks ended without a resolution, according to people on both sides.
TTP at the heart of the deadlock
Reports say the main sticking point in the negotiations is Kabul’s reluctance to rein in the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), a group separate from the Afghan rulers who are hostile to Pakistan.
According to Islamabad, the TTP operates with impunity in Afghanistan and its leadership is currently based there.
Pakistan Television reported that the Afghan delegation “repeatedly agreed to Pakistan’s demands for concrete and decisive action against the TTP and terrorism” but “positions continued to change” following instructions from Kabul.
An Afghan source familiar with the talks told Reuters that the talks ended after “tense exchanges” over the issue, adding that Kabul insisted it had no control over the group.
Taliban-affiliated broadcaster RTA blamed Pakistan for the impasse, saying Kabul had “made every effort to hold constructive talks” but “Pakistan appears to have no intention of doing so.”
Both sides said the ceasefire remained in place despite the impasse and despite sporadic clashes between Pakistani forces and TTP fighters along the border.
Pakistan’s military said Sunday that five Pakistani soldiers and 25 opponents were killed in skirmishes over the weekend, describing the slain fighters as “Fitna al-Khwariji”, a term used to describe ideologically motivated armed groups suspected of supporting foreign sponsors.
The cross-border violence that broke out earlier this month was the deadliest fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in Pakistan in 2021. It sparked alarm across the region, where insurgent groups like al-Qaeda are attempting to re-emerge.
US President Donald Trump, who claims to have halted several wars since returning to the White House at the beginning of the year, said on Sunday that he would resolve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis “very quickly.”
