Albert Khorev, Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan, has said Moscow is concerned about escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban. The Russian diplomat noted that Moscow hopes both sides will resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
The head of Russia’s diplomatic mission in Pakistan added that Moscow is ready to expand counterterrorism cooperation with both Islamabad and Kabul. Khorev stressed that terrorism is a shared threat and that confronting it serves the interests of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and the wider international community.
In October 2025, armed clashes erupted along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in what became the deadliest confrontation since the Taliban returned to power.
The Russian ambassador in Islamabad had previously stated that his country was prepared to mediate between the Taliban and Pakistan. Expressing concern over regional security, particularly developments in Afghanistan, Khorev said Russia supports efforts to strengthen peace and stability in South Asia.
Following the breakdown of Taliban–Pakistan talks in Istanbul, Moscow and Tehran held several rounds of consultations on managing tensions between the two sides. Iran had earlier announced plans to host a special regional meeting to address the crisis in Taliban–Pakistan relations.
Russia and the Islamic Republic maintain close political and security ties with both the Taliban administration and Pakistan.
Earlier, sources told Afghanistan International that Pakistani and Taliban representatives had held talks in Saudi Arabia, which also ended in failure. The negotiations in Saudi Arabia took place after the second and third rounds of talks in Istanbul produced no results.
Qatar and Turkiye, acting as mediators, hosted three rounds of negotiations between the Taliban and Pakistan. The first round was held in Doha, where the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid earlier confirmed the failure of the Istanbul talks. On 8 November, he wrote on X that the discussions with Pakistan in Istanbul had “led to no result.”
Mujahid said certain factions within Pakistan’s intelligence and military were obstructing the process and attempting to inflame tensions through “fabricated pretexts.”
