Pakistan Afghanistan Relations

[RescueRanger]

Pak-Afghan talks in Istanbul may resume if Kabul signals shift in attitude: Defence Minister Asif​

Dawn.com | Abdullah Momand
Published October 30, 2025

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan on cross-border terrorism could resume if Kabul signalled a shift in its attitude.

Discussions between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations had begun in Istanbul on Saturday, but Islamabad’s long-standing concern of terror attacks emanating from Afghanistan had been a bone of contention, resulting in a stalemate.

“While the talks have not begun [again], our delegation is still in Istanbul,” Asif said in an exclusive interview with Geo News.

He added that “discussions could still restart” if there was “some development that indicates a material change in Kabul’s attitude on the insistence of these two friendly countries (Turkiye and Qatar)”.


“Our stance, that there will not be any attacks on us (Pakistan) from their land and they will not back such attacks, is a sticking point. If an understanding can be reached on that, [well and good], it will be a good thing,” Asif said.

The minister noted, “There has been no breakthrough so far. There has been no development that you can have high hopes from.”

However, he added that the defence ministers and intelligence chiefs of the mediating countries were making efforts to end the stalemate in talks.

Asif said the Pakistani delegation had even reached the airport in Istanbul to depart, but a request was made by Turkiye and Qatar to “give us one more chance”. He said Turkish officials offered to speak to Kabul’s delegation and “pave a way out”.

The minister noted that bilateral trade and investment should take place, but added that it was in the “hands of Kabul if it wanted to play a constructive role in this”.

 

[Liquidator]

View attachment 157008

It is reasonable to exhaust diplomacy.

The looming war will be ugly, it's ramifications will last decades. Outside agencies from RAW, MOSSAD and various western ones will ensure no quick resolution.

It is good to exhaust diplomatic options....WHILST engaging them at the border.

 

[nahtanbob]

What's your point?

His point is somehow Pakistanis have been dying for four years since Taliban take over in 2021. I see a lot of dying Pakistanis since 2001. Am I missing something?

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

Khawaja Asif dismisses Afghan claim that TTP militants are ‘Pakistani refugees’​

He warned that if Afghan territory is used against Pakistan for terrorist activity, the country would respond

Web Desk
October 31, 2025

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised an Afghan delegation’s claim that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants are "Pakistani refugees" residing in Afghanistan, describing it as “baseless and illogical”.

At the Istanbul talks, the Afghan delegation suggested the militants "were simply returning to their homes". Responding via social media, Khawaja Asif questioned how they could be considered refugees while apparently armed with highly destructive weapons.

He added: “How are these refugees travelling, not along roads or in vehicles, but like thieves along difficult mountain tracks into Pakistan?”

The minister said the statement reflected bad faith and a lack of sincerity, and indicated weakness on the part of the Afghan delegation. He warned that if Afghan territory is used against Pakistan for terrorist activity, the country would respond at any cost.

Khawaja Asif has previously warned that, if necessary, Pakistan could defeat the Taliban regime and set an example for the world.

Commenting on the unsatisfactory trajectory of talks in Istanbul, Asif said that some “poisonous” statements by Afghan officials suggested growing discord and duplicity within the Taliban leadership, Express News reported.

Istanbul peace talks

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, both sides said on October 19, after a week of fierce border clashes, the worst violence between the South Asian neighbours since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.

The two countries met again in Istanbul on October 25 to chalk out "detailed matters". However, the talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul failed to yield any breakthrough on Islamabad's key demand for a clear plan of action to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from Afghan soil.

Radio Pakistan, on Thursday, confirmed that Pakistan has agreed to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban at the request of the host countries, a move that will keep the Pakistani delegation in Istanbul longer than planned.

The decision was taken to give the negotiating process another chance, but that Pakistan’s core demand — that Afghan territory must not be used to carry out terrorism against Pakistan — will remain central to any renewed discussions.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

The primary reason for the current tense situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the power struggle among various Taliban groups.

The Haqqani group is not only the biggest supporter of the Taliban but also of the deviant Kharijites (TTP), which is why most of the deviant Kharijites' camps are established in the areas under Haqqani influence, namely Paktia, Paktika, and Khost.

On the other hand, the Kandahari group, which is under the influence of Sheikh Haibatullah, has deep and fundamental differences with the Haqqani group regarding the deviant Kharijites.

Sirajuddin Haqqani wants to keep the deviant Kharijites as his right-hand arm so that if there is ever any war or conflict between him and the Kandahari or other Taliban groups, the deviant Kharijites will not only support him but also provide assistance from Pakistan's tribal areas.

The people of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Afghan people are both bearing the brunt of this internal tug-of-war and group division within the Taliban.

 

[ghazi52]

Fresh round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks fails to reach a deal, officials say​

Neighbouring countries agree to continue ceasefire

Reuters
December 3, 2025



PESHAWAR: A new round of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan has failed to produce a breakthrough to end tensions between the South Asian neighbours, although they agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire, officials from both countries said on Wednesday.

The talks in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia aimed at cooling tensions following deadly border clashes in October.

A ceasefire agreed in Doha has largely held, though efforts to secure a longer-term arrangement through follow-up talks in Istanbul last month failed to produce a peace agreement.

Three Afghan and two Pakistani officials told Reuters the latest talks followed a Saudi initiative and included representatives from Pakistan’s military, intelligence services and foreign office.

 

[ghazi52]

At the heart of the dispute, Islamabad says Afghan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul denies the charge, saying it cannot be held responsible for security inside Pakistan.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi did not comment on the location of the talks or confirm whether they were held in Saudi Arabia.

However, in remarks to political analysts in Kabul he rejected Islamabad’s accusations that Afghan soil is used by anti-Pakistan militants, calling the allegations shifting and inconsistent.

“Our position toward Pakistan is that we still seek to resolve issues through understanding and dialogue,“ he said, adding: “And we urge Pakistani officials: focus on solving your own fundamental problems, and value the constructive steps taken by the Islamic Emirate”.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry, its military and the Saudi government did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

People from the military, intelligence agencies and the foreign office represented Islamabad in the talks, a Pakistani official said.

Dozens were killed in October’s clashes, the worst violence on the border since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Islamabad says it wants Kabul to provide a written commitment to act against anti-Pakistan groups. The Taliban say this goes beyond their responsibility and they cannot be expected to guarantee security in Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

UN aid consignments cleared for Afghanistan​

Mubarak Zeb Khan
December 4, 2025

ISLAMABAD: After nearly two months of halted cross-border cargo movement, the Pakistani government has begun clearing humanitarian consignments for Afghanistan, marking the first controlled reopening of transit trade since routine trade was suspended in October.

The government has completely suspended customs clearance for both exports and imports, along with Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) cargos, at major border crossings — including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda — effective October 12, and at the Chaman border from October 15.

An official letter was issued to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Directorate General of Transit Trade to initiate the movement of consignments belonging to three United Nations agencies through the border crossings at Chaman and Torkham.

In the first phase, a total of 143 containers of humanitarian goods will be allowed for clearance at Chaman and Torkham. The breakdown shows that the containers include 67 containers of food assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP), 74 containers of supplies for children from Unicef, and two containers of healthcare and family support items from UNFPA.

Officials confirmed that the decision followed instructions issued by the foreign ministry after consultations with the UN resident coordinator in Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

According to letter, the cargo movement will proceed in three stages: the first covers food shipments, the second covers medicine and medical equipment, and the third covers items for education services. More consignments are expected to follow once agencies provide updated requirements.

It further stated that the Directorate General of Transit Trade and FBR were requested to undertake the necessary actions for the clearance and onward transportation of the mentioned containers via Chaman and Torkham, as originally manifested under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and ATT rules.

Truck drivers and customs workers in Chaman and Torkham had faced long periods without cargo activity, with hundreds of vehicles parked along the routes during the closure.

Officials said the reopening applied only to humanitarian ATT cargos and did not signal the restoration of routine trade. Senior officials added that the remaining UN cargo lists would be shared in stages once documentation was verified.

In terms of transit cargo, approximately 495 vehicles are queued for border crossing at Torkham and Chaman. Of these, the majority — 412 vehicles — are stranded at Chaman, while the remaining 83 are held up at Torkham, the announcement added.

In the fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistan recorded transit trade imports valued at $1.012 billion, comprising a total of 42,959 containers.

 

[Watandar]

It is reasonable to exhaust diplomacy.

The looming war will be ugly, it's ramifications will last decades. Outside agencies from RAW, MOSSAD and various western ones will ensure no quick resolution.

It is good to exhaust diplomatic options....WHILST engaging them at the border.

Wars are very expensive. Taliban can get money from India or West to prosecute this new war, where will Pakistan get the cash ?

West could also assist both sides, just like Iran Iraq war in 1980s, but is that a situation you want to be in ?

 

[ghazi52]

Fighting breaks out at Pak-Afghan border​

Saleem Shahid
December 6, 2025

QUETTA: A heavy exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces was reported from the Chaman border late on Friday night.

Pakistani and Afghan officials accused each other of instigating the flare-up.

Pakistani officials said that Afghan forces had fired mortar shells on the Badani area.

But Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed it was Pakistan that launched an attack on Spin Boldak, alleging that their forces were responding.

Official sources said that Pakistani forces retaliated against the Afghan aggression and returned fire.

There were also reports of fighting on the Chaman-Kandahar highway, but these could not be immediately verified.

A senior official in Quetta confirmed on the condition of anonymity that the exchange of fire started at around 10pm and continued till late night.

The medical superintendent of Chaman district hospital, Muhammad Owais, said that three injured, including a woman, were brought to the medical facility.

There was neither any official word from the Inter-Services Public Relations, nor from the Foreign Office by the time of going to press.

 

[ghazi52]

Calm returns to Chaman border after heavy overnight clashes​

Saleem Shahid
December 6, 2025

Calm returned to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman on Saturday after heavy clashes occurred between the two sides a day earlier.

At least three civilians were injured in the clashes last night and were shifted to the district hospital in Chaman. On the Afghan side, five people were injured, according to Afghan government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat.

According to officials, Afghan forces fired mortar shells on the Badani area, prompting security forces to retaliate. However, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed it was Pakistan that launched an attack on Spin Boldak, alleging that their forces were responding.

Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, however, confirmed the clashes.

In a post on X early Saturday morning, he said, “A short while ago, the Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the Chaman border. An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces.”

“Pakistan remains fully alert & committed to ensuring its territorial integrity & the safety [of] our citizens,” he added.

A senior official in Quetta also confirmed on the condition of anonymity that the exchange of fire started at around 10pm and continued till late at night.

The clash comes amid stalled negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after three rounds of talks in Istanbul could not yield any results.

Border clashes first broke out between the two nations on October 11. Pakistan’s bilateral relations with Afghanistan have come under strain in recent times as the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains the main point of contention between the two countries.

Pakistan has demanded that the rulers in Kabul take action to stop cross-border terrorism.

A day earlier, the spokesperson Foreign Office (FO) had reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to engage in talks with Afghanistan.