Peace negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, mediated by Turkey and Qatar in Istanbul, concluded without a resolution on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. This development marks a significant setback for regional stability, following deadly border clashes earlier this month. The talks aimed to establish a long-term truce between the two South Asian neighbors, who have been embroiled in escalating violence since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul in 2021. Despite agreeing to a ceasefire brokered in Doha on October 19, the second round of discussions failed to yield common ground, with both sides attributing the impasse to the other. A Pakistani security source claimed that the Afghan Taliban refused to commit to restraining the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group hostile to Pakistan. Conversely, an Afghan source cited “tense exchanges” over the issue, emphasizing that Kabul has no control over the Pakistani Taliban. The breakdown in talks could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire and escalate tensions between the two nations. Over the weekend, clashes near the border resulted in the deaths of five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants, underscoring the volatility of the situation. Neither the Afghan Taliban government nor Pakistani officials provided immediate comments on the failed negotiations.