Islamabad- Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban were set to resume peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday, aiming to tackle the issue of cross-border terrorism and avoid further escalation between the two sides.

Clashes broke out between the border troops on October 11, resulting in casualties on both sides. Pakistan claimed that at least 206 Afghan Taliban and 110 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operatives were killed, while Pakistan suffered the loss of 23 soldiers. A ceasefire was agreed between the two sides on October 15, which had been extended during the two rounds of talks held on October 19 in Doha and October 25 in Istanbul.

The temporary truce is still holding, but mutual acrimony is evident on social media and in the statements of officials from both sides.

The Istanbul talks were headi

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