The International Crisis Group (ICG), a leading independent organization focused on preventing and resolving deadly conflicts, has called on Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to step up as mediators between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kabul 24: The aim is to reduce escalating border tensions and prevent further military confrontations between the two neighbors.In a statement released on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 (19 Hoot 1404), coinciding with ongoing regional instability, the ICG highlighted the urgent need for renewed dialogue facilitated by these “friendly states.” The organization noted that previous mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey in late 2025 had secured a fragile ceasefire in October, while Saudi Arabia hosted talks in Riyadh in November.
However, those negotiations stalled, and recent cross-border clashes—including Pakistani airstrikes in February 2026 and retaliatory actions—have raised fears of a spiraling conflict.
The ICG emphasized that direct bilateral talks currently appear unlikely, making external mediation essential to convey red lines, rebuild trust, and explore de-escalation pathways.
The group specifically urged Pakistan to review its stringent trade and migration policies toward Afghanistan. It criticized the mass expulsions of Afghan nationals, describing them as excessive and counterproductive amid Afghanistan’s severe humanitarian and economic crisis.
According to ICG analysis, Pakistan’s hardened stance—including border closures, trade suspensions, and the requirement for visas even for previously documented Afghans—has exacerbated bilateral friction without effectively addressing security concerns related to militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ICG stressed that Pakistan should accelerate visa processing and extensions for eligible Afghans, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, female rights activists, journalists, students, and those seeking medical or educational opportunities.
Expediting these procedures would provide critical protection to at-risk individuals while demonstrating goodwill and helping to temper the deportation drive that has displaced hundreds of thousands.
The call comes against the backdrop of heightened militant activity in Pakistan’s western border regions, civilian casualties from cross-border operations, and mutual accusations: Islamabad blames Kabul for harboring anti-Pakistan insurgents, while Afghan authorities deny the claims and protest civilian harm from Pakistani strikes.
The International Crisis Group warned that prolonged hostility serves neither side’s interests and risks broader regional instability.
It recommended that mediators resume facilitation efforts promptly, potentially building on prior Qatari-Turkish and Saudi-led initiatives. Resumed negotiations, even if limited initially, could help prevent escalation and create space for addressing core issues like counter-militancy cooperation, border management, and humanitarian access.
This appeal underscores the ICG’s view that diplomacy—rather than force—remains the viable path forward for stabilizing Afghanistan-Pakistan relations in a volatile period.
