Caption:Stalled Dialogue and Border Tensions ——————————
Islamabad, November 9, 2025 — Hopes for a breakthrough in Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks have crumbled as negotiations collapsed this week, with both sides trading blame and the Taliban government in Kabul maintaining a defiant stance on key security and border issues.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on Saturday that the dialogue process has effectively broken down, citing the Afghan Taliban’s unwillingness to address Islamabad’s core concerns — particularly cross-border militancy and the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating from Afghan soil.
“Our patience has limits. Pakistan has made every effort to engage constructively, but the Taliban’s continued denial and defiance have left no room for dialogue,” Khawaja Asif said while addressing reporters in Sialkot. “Even mediators who tried to bridge the gap have now stepped back.”
The Pakistan-Afghan dialogue, initiated earlier this year through backchannel and intelligence-level contacts, was aimed at reducing border clashes and ensuring security cooperation under the Doha framework. However, officials say the talks derailed over repeated attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions — incidents Islamabad attributes to groups sheltering inside Afghanistan.
A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that mediators — reportedly including representatives from Qatar and China — had become “disillusioned” by the Taliban’s refusal to act against TTP factions.
“The Taliban government insists that TTP is an ‘internal Pakistani issue,’ which is unacceptable to Islamabad,” the official noted. “Every attack erodes trust and makes dialogue meaningless.” Rising Border Tensions
The collapse of talks comes amid rising tension along the Durand Line, where frequent cross-border incidents have left soldiers and civilians injured. Pakistan has also accelerated deportation of undocumented Afghan nationals, a move that Kabul has condemned as “inhumane” and “politically motivated.”
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In response, the Taliban administration in Kabul accused Pakistan of creating “artificial pressure” and warned that such policies would “damage relations beyond repair.” Regional Implications
Analysts warn that the diplomatic breakdown could further destabilize regional security, already strained by militant activity and economic challenges. Political analyst Dr. Huma Baqai said, “The collapse of Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue exposes the deep mistrust between the two countries. Without a credible mechanism to address cross-border terrorism, the entire region remains vulnerable.” What’s Next?
Islamabad is now reassessing its Afghanistan policy, with reports suggesting that Pakistan may adopt a “harder security stance” along the western frontier, including stricter border controls and targeted counter-terror operations.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif hinted at this shift, saying, “We want peace, but peace cannot come at the cost of our national security. Pakistan will defend itself by all means necessary.”
As mediators step away and diplomatic channels fall silent, the collapse of talks marks one of the most serious setbacks in recent Pakistan-Afghanistan relations — and leaves regional stability hanging in the balance.