Istanbul Peace Talks: A New Chapter for Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Afghanistan and Pakistan are recommencing peace negotiations on Thursday in Istanbul. This decision comes after a previous round concluded without securing a lasting peace agreement.

Last month's military confrontations resulted in numerous deaths, marking the most severe violence since the Taliban's 2021 takeover in Kabul. The nations agreed to a ceasefire in Doha on October 19, yet disagreements over militant groups in Afghanistan, perceived as threats by Pakistan, hindered progress in the last round of talks.

Prioritizing peace, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed hopes for restored regional stability. Leading the Pakistani team is military intelligence head Asim Malik, while Abdul Haq Wasiq, Afghanistan's intelligence chief, will head the Afghan group. These talks hope to mend worsening relations exacerbated by accusations surrounding Taliban's harbouring of hostile militants.