Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to begin a third round of high-level peace talks on Thursday in Istanbul, as both sides seek to finalize the framework for a lasting ceasefire following last month’s border clashes. The negotiations are expected to build on agreements made during the late-October meetings and focus on mechanisms to prevent future hostilities.
The Afghan delegation will be led by Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of the General Directorate of Intelligence, accompanied by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Najib and Deputy Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalali. The Pakistani side will be represented by Asim Malik, the powerful chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Fighting erupted earlier this month after Pakistan launched a series of cross-border airstrikes on October 9th targeting alleged Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) positions inside Afghan territory. The attacks sparked a near two-week confrontation that resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides and a breakdown in communication between Kabul and Islamabad.
A temporary ceasefire was reached on October 19th after emergency negotiations in Doha, Qatar. That truce was later extended during a tense second round of talks in Istanbul from October 25th to 30th, where reports indicated that the Pakistani delegation briefly walked out over disagreements regarding border demarcation and counterterrorism coordination.
Despite the friction, both parties agreed to continue diplomatic engagement, raising hopes that the upcoming third round could yield a more durable settlement. Pakistani Defense Minister Ishaq Dar, who had warned before the second round that failure to reach an agreement could mean “open war,” has since softened his tone — a sign that both sides may now be seeking de-escalation over confrontation.
Central to the discussions are two main points of contention. Kabul is demanding an end to Pakistani airstrikes and greater respect for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, while Islamabad insists that the Afghan government dismantle TTP infrastructure along the border to prevent future militant incursions.