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US President comments as peace talks between Kabul and Islamabad enter second day in Istanbul
KABUL – US President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to “solve the Afghanistan–Pakistan crisis very quickly,” as the two countries held a second day of high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul aimed at ending a recent surge in cross-border fighting.
The neighbouring countries are locked in a bitter security standoff, each accusing the other of provocation during deadly clashes earlier this month that killed dozens and wounded hundreds. The violence marked the worst escalation in years and sparked fears of wider instability in a region where militant groups such as Al Qaeda are attempting a resurgence.
Pakistan has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of sheltering militants responsible for cross-border attacks, an allegation Kabul rejects. The ongoing talks in Istanbul focus on transforming a fragile ceasefire, reached earlier this month in Doha, into a lasting framework for peace and border security.
“I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up,” Trump said on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. “But I’ll get that solved very quickly,” he added, speaking after attending the signing of the Thailand–Cambodia peace agreement.
According to Taliban-controlled RTA media, the Afghan delegation submitted a draft proposal emphasizing respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, including a commitment from Pakistan not to violate Afghan airspace or allow “any anti-Afghan group” to operate from its territory.
RTA also reported that Afghanistan expressed readiness to establish “a four-way channel to monitor the ceasefire agreement” and exchange information on any violations. Pakistan’s side reportedly submitted a revised draft on Saturday evening.
No immediate comment was available from the Pakistani government. However, Trump’s remarks are likely to draw attention in both Kabul and Islamabad, as Washington seeks to reassert influence in South and Central Asia.
