Urgent Saudi Mediation: Taliban Delegation in Riyadh for Crucial Pakistan Talks
Riyadh – December 1, 2025
A high-level Taliban delegation quietly landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday to attend closed-door talks with Pakistani officials, in a fresh Saudi-led effort to prevent escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
A high-level Taliban delegation quietly landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday to attend closed-door talks with Pakistani officials, in a fresh Saudi-led effort to prevent escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Diplomatic sources in Riyadh and Kabul confirmed the surprise visit, describing it as the most serious attempt yet to resolve months of tension between Islamabad and the Islamic Emirate.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>ALERT: A High-Level Afghan Delegation Visits Saudi Arabia for Talks Mediated by Riyadh<br><br>Reliable Sources in Kabul, Afghanistan have told The Khorasan Diary that a high-level delegation from the Taliban-led interim Afghan government has traveled to Saudi Arabia for renewed…</p>— The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) <a href=”https://twitter.com/khorasandiary/status/1995399209718309322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Highlights
- Taliban team led by Anas Haqqani, Rahmatullah Najib, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi
- Talks mediated directly by Saudi Arabia after earlier rounds in Doha and Istanbul failed to produce results
- Main focus: FAK/TTP sanctuaries, border security, and dignified return of Afghan refugees
Why Saudi Arabia Stepped In
After three inconclusive meetings hosted by Qatar and Turkey, both sides turned to Riyadh for its unique influence. The Kingdom maintains working relations with the Islamic Emirate while enjoying deep defence and economic ties with Pakistan.
Social media accounts affiliated with the Afghan Taliban report that a delegation from Kabul, led by Deputy Interior Minister Mawlawi Rahmat Ullah Najeeb, is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for negotiations with Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/865BLyOvrr
— The OxusWatch (@theoxuswatch) December 1, 2025
Key Issues on the Table in Riyadh
The confidential agenda revolves around Pakistan’s long-standing security concerns:
- Visible action against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps inside Afghanistan
- Joint border management to stop cross-line attacks
- Safe and phased repatriation of over 1.7 million undocumented Afghans
- Immediate reopening of Torkham and Chaman trade gates
A Fragile Calm
The mid-October ceasefire has largely held, but sporadic clashes continue. Just three days ago, heavy firing in Kurram left several casualties on both sides. Pakistani officials say recent TTP attacks inside the country have made compromise harder.
Quiet International Support
The United States, China, and the United Nations have welcomed the Saudi initiative. Beijing is particularly keen to avoid any instability that could affect CPEC extension plans, while Washington continues to press for verifiable counter-terrorism steps.
As the delegations began back-to-back negotiating sessions in Riyadh on Monday evening, officials on both sides described the next 72 hours as “decisive” for regional peace.
More details are expected once the Saudi hosts issue an official statement.
