Saudi Arabia hosted secret talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan to reduce cross-border tensions, but no agreement was reached. Both sides maintained firm positions and showed little willingness to compromise. Sources said the closed-door session ended late Sunday without any breakthrough.
The Riyadh meeting included mostly the same delegations that attended previous talks in Istanbul. Pakistan’s team featured a diplomat from the Foreign Office, while Afghanistan’s delegation remained largely unchanged. Saudi officials suggested resuming bilateral trade alongside counterterrorism discussions, but Pakistan declined the proposal.
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The talks occurred while a separate Turkiye-Qatar-mediated track remains stalled. Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan announced plans to send a delegation to Pakistan, which has yet to materialize. That initiative had produced a fragile ceasefire in October, but it faltered due to ongoing terrorist activities.
Sources said another Saudi-hosted round of talks is possible in the near future. The Riyadh meeting was kept secret at Saudi Arabia’s request to avoid public pressure and political backlash. Both sides agreed to maintain discretion on outcomes and proceedings.
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Observers say these talks signal continued regional efforts to stabilize Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. While progress was limited, diplomatic channels remain open, and mediators continue seeking a durable solution to cross-border security issues.