Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have reportedly agreed to resume their stalled peace talks in Istanbul following a request from the host countries, according to diplomatic sources on Thursday. The Pakistani delegation, which was preparing to return home, will now remain in Istanbul for renewed discussions aimed at giving peace another chance through sustained diplomatic engagement.
The dialogue is expected to focus on Pakistan’s core security demand that Afghanistan take verifiable and effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan. The renewed talks highlight ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and address the escalating cross-border tensions that have strained bilateral ties in recent months.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the initial round of Istanbul talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban — mediated by Qatar and Türkiye — had ended without progress. He said Pakistan’s “patience has reached its limit” after a series of cross-border terror attacks and vowed that any further aggression would be met with decisive action. Tarar accused a faction within the Taliban of aiding anti-Pakistan groups and sustaining a “war economy,” while also alleging that Indian-backed networks were fueling regional terrorism. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to protect its citizens and eliminate all militant threats.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also issued a strong warning to the Taliban leadership, declaring that Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border militancy and is fully prepared to respond to any threat from Afghan territory. He said Pakistan agreed to peace talks at the request of “brotherly countries,” but recent hostile statements from some Afghan officials revealed internal divisions within the Taliban and cast doubt on their sincerity. Asif criticized the Taliban for prioritizing the survival of a “war economy” over the welfare of the Afghan people and urged Kabul to act decisively against militants targeting Pakistan.
The decision to resume talks in Istanbul represents another attempt to prevent further escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as Islamabad maintains that its response will be strict and uncompromising if the violence continues.
