Pakistan’s state media has confirmed that Islamabad will extend its participation in peace talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul, following a request from the host country, Turkey.
According to diplomatic sources, the Pakistani delegation, which was scheduled to return home, will now remain in Istanbul to continue discussions. Officials say the decision reflects Pakistan’s desire to “give peace another chance” and to restore an atmosphere of trust in the region.
The development comes a day after Sohail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office and Afghanistan’s ambassador to Qatar, stressed the need for another round of dialogue. He noted that such negotiations rarely produce final agreements in a single sitting.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had announced on social media platform X that the Istanbul talks had ended without a breakthrough. He said that despite mediation by Qatar and Turkey, no viable solution was reached in either Doha or Istanbul.
The backdrop to these talks is a period of heightened tension. Following intense border clashes earlier this month, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a temporary ceasefire. The first round of talks was held in Qatar, where both sides committed to a second round in Istanbul to extend the truce and work toward lasting peace.
The Istanbul round began on October 25 and lasted four days. While Pakistan initially declared the talks a failure, Turkey’s intervention has kept the process alive.
In a separate statement, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the Afghan Taliban government after the talks stalled, warning that Pakistan had the capability to overthrow the regime “without using its full power.” His remarks underscored the growing frustration in Islamabad over cross‑border militancy and Kabul’s reluctance to act against groups operating from Afghan soil.
Despite the setbacks, analysts say the continuation of talks in Istanbul signals that both sides, under international mediation, are still seeking a diplomatic path forward.