Riyadh Confidential Talks End Without Result; Pakistan and Taliban Maintain Positions.
Pakistan’s Dawn News reported that Saudi Arabia secretly hosted a new round of direct talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan aimed at reducing cross-border militancy tensions.
The discussions, held in Riyadh on Monday, December 1, 2025, ended late in the day without reaching a concrete outcome. Sources said both sides continued to maintain their previous positions, showing no signs of flexibility or willingness to compromise.
Despite the stalemate, another round of talks hosted by Saudi Arabia remains possible. Riyadh’s involvement is separate from mediation efforts by Turkey and Qatar, which, according to Dawn News, have been progressing slowly.
Turkey had previously announced plans to send a delegation to Pakistan, though the visit has not yet occurred. The joint Turkey–Qatar initiative had established a fragile ceasefire after early October clashes, which Pakistani officials say remains “unstable” due to conditions requiring a halt to militant activities.
During the Riyadh talks, Saudi officials suggested that Pakistan consider resuming bilateral trade with Afghanistan alongside ongoing security discussions, but Islamabad rejected the proposal.
Sources confirmed that the delegations present were the same teams that participated in previous Istanbul negotiations. At Saudi Arabia’s request, the details of the meeting remain confidential, and the Taliban have yet to issue an official statement.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have entered a new phase following the Istanbul deadlock, with Saudi Arabia now emerging as a primary mediation venue.
