 "Afghan Taliban's Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid and Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif shake hands following the signing of a ceasefire agreement during negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, Qatar, on October 19, 2025. (Photo: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters)")
The Pakistan-Taliban talks entered their third day on Monday in Turkey, but both sides appear far from reaching common ground. There are growing indications that the negotiations, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, may be heading towards a stalemate.
A senior Pakistani official told Dawn newspaper that Pakistan had submitted its “final position” to the Taliban and demanded verifiable action against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Delegations from Pakistan and the Taliban held discussions in Turkey’s Istanbul on Saturday and Sunday. As both sides continued to accuse each other of undermining their authority and presented conflicting demands, no agreement has yet been reached.
Following nearly nine hours of talks that extended late into the night, Pakistan conveyed to the Taliban that they must take “concrete and verifiable steps to eliminate cross-border terrorism from and within Afghanistan”, the official said.
The official added that Pakistan had made it clear that the “ongoing patronage of terrorists by the Afghan Taliban is unacceptable”.
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In October, Pakistan and the Taliban engaged in several rounds of clashes that killed dozens and injured hundreds — including civilians, soldiers, and alleged militants. Pakistan has carried out multiple airstrikes in Afghanistan, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have intervened, and Qatar and Turkey are currently leading mediation efforts.
Pakistan and Afghanistan initially agreed to a ceasefire on October 1 5, which was subsequently renewed on October 17 and 19. The current negotiations aim to establish a long-term ceasefire.
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In a thinly veiled reference to India, the Pakistani official told Dawn that the Taliban “appeared to be following someone else’s agenda”.
The official stated that such a stance “was not in the interest of Afghanistan, Pakistan, or the region”.
The Taliban have dismissed Pakistan’s accusations regarding the use of Afghan soil for terrorism as “illogical and contrary to ground realities”.
According to Tolo News, the Taliban have set two conditions for a ceasefire: first, Pakistan must refrain from violating Afghanistan’s airspace and land borders; and second, it must not allow opposition groups to use its territory against Afghanistan.
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Dawn also reported that the Taliban proposed involving the TTP in talks with Pakistan, but Pakistan rejected the proposal and stated it would not engage in dialogue with the group, which it designates as a terrorist organisation. Pakistan stressed that is the Taliban’s responsibility to curb the group’s activities in Afghanistan.
The TTP is an Islamist militant organisation committed to overthrowing the Pakistani state and establishing a strict interpretation of sharia law in the country. While it is distinct from the Afghan Taliban, it is ideologically aligned and has long operated from Afghan territory.