The next round of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, scheduled on November 6, 2025, in Istanbul, offers yet another opportunity for choosing peace for the war-weary people of Afghanistan. The crucial question at this decisive moment is whether the power elite ruling Afghanistan will seize this opportunity and rid not only the poor people of Afghanistan but also bring normalcy along the border regions of its neighbouring countries, or once again show customary ignorance-fuelled arrogance by choosing conflict and violence. Pakistan has historically salvaged Afghanistan from many crises and helped it regain its national independence, but this time it is Pakistan that is bargaining peace with Afghanistan for its citizens. The group leading Afghanistan ironically draws meaning for its very existence in perpetuity only through violence driven by religious bigotry. While Pakistan is choosing diplomacy for the resolution of the conflict, it remains well aware that it is dealing with people who often mock peace overtures and live under the false arrogance of historic jingoism. This makes it imperative for Pakistan not to pursue its crucial demands for peace and stability only by following a traditional rule-based moral face of diplomacy but also by using a tit-for-tat response scenario in case of any future violent action perpetrated from Afghan soil against Pakistan. It is a tough choice for the parties parleying for peace—one exploiting diplomacy to feign and perpetuate violence, and the other making diplomacy a visible language of force against force to win sustainable peace for its citizens.

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Pakistan’s demands........

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