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KABUL – Peace negotiators from Afghanistan and Pakistan continued their third day of talks in Istanbul on Monday, struggling to cement a lasting ceasefire after weeks of cross-border fighting that brought both nations to the brink of war. Kabul appealed for “patience, dialogue and understanding,” even as Islamabad warned that failure to reach an accord could trigger “open war.”
The Istanbul meetings, jointly facilitated by Turkey and Qatar, follow a bloody series of clashes that erupted two weeks ago when Afghanistan’s Taliban government launched an offensive along the frontier after deadly blasts in Kabul it blamed on Pakistan. The violence spiraled into artillery duels, drone strikes, and civilian casualties on both sides, forcing a temporary border shutdown and a fragile, short-lived ceasefire.
“The second phase of negotiations is underway; we cannot anticipate the outcome,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP. “The only viable path to resolving our differences with Pakistan is through dialogue and understanding.”
Pakistan, however, maintains that its patience is wearing thin. Security officials accused the Afghan side of showing “a lack of seriousness” and “rigidity” in the discussions. Over the weekend, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Islamabad “will have no option but open war” if talks fail to deliver results.
At the heart of the dispute is Islamabad’s demand for “verifiable action” against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it claims is operating freely from Afghan territory. Kabul denies the allegation and has urged Pakistan to stop airstrikes inside Afghan airspace and to end support for anti-Taliban groups.
The Istanbul dialogue, the latest in a series of mediation efforts following the brief Doha ceasefire, aims to establish a framework for border stability and intelligence sharing. Observers say the talks are critical for preventing another escalation in a region already burdened by refugee crises, militant activity, and economic strain.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Washington “could solve the Afghanistan–Pakistan crisis very quickly,” hinting that outside intervention could follow if diplomacy fails.
For now, both delegations remain behind closed doors, with Turkish officials calling the discussions “sensitive but constructive.” Whether the fragile truce can evolve into lasting peace may depend on how far each side is willing to compromise in Istanbul.
