Pak-Afghan Peace Talks Stalled Over Taliban’s ‘Illogical Stance’: Report
The second round of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, held in Istanbul on Saturday, has reportedly reached a stalemate as Islamabad accused the Taliban of maintaining an “illogical and detached” position on key security concerns — including cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts — according to Pakistani media reports.
The Istanbul talks came a week after the initial negotiations in Doha, following the October 16 ceasefire that ended the deadliest clashes between the two sides since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
According to Geo News, Pakistan presented “clear, evidence-based, and solution-oriented” proposals aimed at curbing cross-border militancy. However, the Taliban’s rigid stance and “illogical” reasoning have cast serious doubts on their willingness to cooperate.
Radio Pakistan reported that the second round of discussions focused on establishing a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to control cross-border militant movements and ease trade restrictions between the two nations. Talks also included the possibility of reaching a long-term political understanding to stabilize bilateral relations.
Citing diplomatic sources, Geo News said the Taliban delegation remained uncooperative and unwilling to acknowledge “ground realities.” Turkey is reportedly attempting to mediate by urging the Taliban to recognize the seriousness of Pakistan’s concerns.
Islamabad, meanwhile, has taken a firm stance, warning that any tolerance or shelter for militants targeting Pakistani soil will be deemed unacceptable. “Islamabad pressed the Taliban to take firm, verifiable action against terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil,” the report added.
During the first phase of talks held in Istanbul on October 19, Pakistan submitted a comprehensive counterterrorism plan to the Afghan side, which responded early Sunday morning.
As the second round resumed, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif cautioned that Pakistan may consider an “all-out war” if peace talks fail. He noted that there had been no border skirmishes in the past few days and that nearly 80 percent of the points agreed upon in the first Doha round were already being implemented.
Donald Trump Offers to Mediate Pak-Afghan Conflict
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his frequent claims of mediating global conflicts, has now pledged to help resolve tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Speaking at the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia Peace Deal on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Trump said,
“We’re averaging one war a month. There’s only one left, though I heard Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But I’ll get that solved very quickly. I know them both.”
Trump added that Pakistan’s military leadership and Prime Minister were “great people” and expressed confidence in resolving the dispute swiftly.
“Resolving conflicts is something I can do nicely. I don’t need to, I guess. But if I can save millions of lives, that’s a great thing. I can’t think of anything better to do,” he remarked.
Earlier this month, during the Gaza Peace Summit, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Trump as a “man of peace” and credited him with helping defuse tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
However, despite Trump’s repeated claims of mediating between India and Pakistan, New Delhi has consistently maintained that no third-party involvement was part of the ceasefire agreement with Islamabad.
