Talks aimed at securing a long-term truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan concluded in Istanbul without a "workable solution", Pakistan's information minister said on Wednesday, in a blow for peace in the region after deadly clashes this month. "Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to blame game, deflection and ruses. The October clashes began after Pakistani air strikes this month on Kabul, the Afghan capital, among other locations, targeting the head of the Pakistani Taliban. On Saturday, Pakistan's defence minister said he believed Afghanistan wanted peace but that failure to reach an agreement in Istanbul would mean "open war". Despite a ceasefire between Pakistan and the Taliban, weekend clashes killed five Pakistani soldiers and 25 Pakistani Taliban militants near the border with Afghanistan, the military said on Sunday.

Source: bd News24 October 29, 2025 04:19 UTC