Turkeys Erdogan offers to try to revive a truce as Pakistan-Afghan border clashes enter sixth day
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Erdogan Offers to Mediate as Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clashes Continue
ISLAMABAD – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to mediate a new ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan as border clashes between the two countries enter their sixth day. The conflict, which began last week, has seen both sides exchanging fire and accusations, raising concerns within the international community.
The current hostilities follow a previous ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October. That truce, which was followed by talks in Istanbul, ultimately failed to prevent the renewed violence.
According to a statement from the Turkish presidential office, Erdogan, in a telephone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, condemned terrorist attacks in Pakistan and offered Turkey's assistance in re-establishing the ceasefire. While Sharif's office did not directly confirm the offer, it stated that the leaders discussed the border tensions and would remain in close contact.
There has been no immediate comment from the Taliban government in Afghanistan regarding Erdogan's offer. However, the Afghan Foreign Ministry confirmed that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had contacted Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last week to discuss the situation.
Both sides have claimed to inflict significant casualties on each other, but the reports are conflicting and cannot be independently verified. The fighting has primarily focused on Pakistan's border regions. Pakistan has warned that military operations will continue until Afghanistan takes verifiable steps to curb Pakistani Taliban and other militants operating from its territory. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring the TTP, a militant group responsible for a surge in attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. Afghanistan denies the charge.
BNN's Perspective: The ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan is deeply concerning. While Turkey's offer of mediation is a positive step, the underlying issues of cross-border terrorism and mistrust must be addressed for any lasting peace to be achieved. A sustained dialogue, with the involvement of regional and international actors, is crucial to de-escalate the situation and prevent further loss of life.
Keywords: Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, border clashes, ceasefire, mediation, Erdogan, Taliban, TTP, conflict, international community, military operations, terrorism, Kabul, Islamabad.