In a fresh escalation of rhetoric, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has accused Pakistan’s military of deliberately fuelling instability along the Afghan border to create conditions conducive for a United States return to Afghanistan, specifically at the Bagram Air Base.
In an interview with Khyber TV, Mujahid claimed that Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Afghan territory, failed peace talks, and repeated threats to Kabul were aimed at “creating chaos” and enabling Washington to re-establish its military footprint. “Pakistan is seeking a crisis so the US can easily come back,” Mujahid alleged, adding that Islamabad was “muddying the waters to catch fish.”
He further accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty, saying that Islamabad’s military establishment and civilian leadership were pursuing contradictory agendas, with one seeking peace and the other allegedly undermining it.
Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks: How has the ceasefire impacted the situation?
Despite the mounting accusations, the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was reopened on Saturday (November 1, 2025), nearly two weeks after deadly border clashes forced its closure. The reopening follows the ceasefire agreement formalised in Doha on October 19, which continues to hold under the mediation of Türkiye and Qatar.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement a few days back, confirmed, “Afghanistan, Pakistan, Türkiye and Qatar held meetings in Istanbul from 25-30 October 2025 aimed at solidifying the ceasefire.”
Officials confirmed that Afghan refugees stranded during the closure have begun returning home, with the repatriation process resuming at both Torkham and Chaman crossings. According to reports, around 10,700 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via Chaman on Friday, and over 1.56 million Afghan nationals have returned home under Pakistan’s ongoing repatriation initiative.
Has trade between Pak-Afghan resumed?
While the Torkham border has reopened for refugee movement, trade between the two countries remains suspended, as confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. “The border remains closed for trade for now,” Andrabi said, adding that commercial activity would resume depending on the security situation.
The earlier suspension had led to supply shortages and price hikes in northwestern Pakistan, particularly for perishable items like tomatoes and fresh produce.
Meanwhile, Mujahid condemned Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees and closure of crossings like Torkham, calling such measures “irrational and unprecedented.” He argued that Pakistan’s border shutdowns “at the slightest incident” reflect “the limits of its power.”
Pak-Afghan peace talks: What was agreed in latest Istanbul talks?
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to extend their ceasefire following talks held in Istanbul from October 25–30. Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, the discussions focused on mechanisms to prevent renewed clashes and enhance trust between both sides.
A joint statement said both parties agreed to establish a “monitoring and verification mechanism” to ensure compliance and penalise violators. A follow-up principal-level meeting will take place in Istanbul on November 6, 2025 to finalise implementation modalities.
Türkiye and Qatar praised both sides for their “active contribution” and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting “lasting peace and stability” in the region.
Can the ceasefire hold amid growing mistrust?
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, deep mistrust persists between Kabul and Islamabad. Mujahid asserted that the Taliban “does not trust Pakistan’s assurances”, warning that “Afghans should never be spoken to in the language of threats.” He also denied the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders inside Afghanistan.
Still, Mujahid said the Taliban remains open to intelligence cooperation with Pakistan — but stressed that border security is Islamabad’s responsibility.