Post by : Rameen Ariff

Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to restart peace talks in Istanbul, officials familiar with the discussions confirmed Thursday, a day after Islamabad announced the previous talks had ended in failure. The move comes at the request of host nation Turkey, aiming to prevent further border clashes that have claimed dozens of lives this month.

Delegations from both countries are currently in Istanbul, focused on reviving dialogue to maintain the ceasefire and curb escalating violence along the 2,600-kilometre border. Islamabad has made it clear that its central demand in the talks is for Afghanistan to take action against militants using its territory as a safe haven to launch attacks on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a separate group hostile to Pakistan, enabling attacks on Pakistani troops. Kabul denies control over the group, leading to an impasse in previous negotiations.

The border region has witnessed intense clashes this October, the deadliest since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. Violence escalated after Pakistani airstrikes targeted the head of the Pakistani Taliban in Kabul and other areas, prompting retaliatory attacks by the Taliban on Pakistani military posts.

Earlier ceasefire efforts brokered in Doha on October 19 faltered during the second round of talks in Istanbul mediated by Turkey and Qatar. Despite the ceasefire, clashes continued with multiple fatalities reported on both sides.

The renewed peace talks are seen as a critical step to stabilise the volatile border and prevent further loss of life. Both Afghan and Pakistani officials remain cautiously optimistic that sustained dialogue in Istanbul could pave the way for long-term conflict resolution.

The international community is closely monitoring the developments, urging both nations to prioritise diplomacy and uphold the ceasefire while addressing the persistent threat posed by militant groups along the border.

#world news #Global News