Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Wednesday that the four-day Pakistan–Afghan Taliban talks held in Istanbul concluded without any breakthrough, despite Islamabad repeatedly presenting evidence-based counterterrorism concerns. In a post on X, Tarar stated that the negotiations “failed to produce any workable outcome.” He noted that Pakistan has consistently urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by militants carrying out cross-border attacks. “Since the Taliban takeover in Kabul, Pakistan has continuously engaged with the Afghan Taliban regime over ongoing cross-border terrorism perpetrated by India-backed Fitna al-Khwarij (TTP) and Fitna al-Hindustan (BLA),” he said. Tarar added that Islamabad has repeatedly reminded Kabul to honor the commitments it made in the Doha Agreement to not allow Afghan territory to threaten other states. However, he said Pakistan’s efforts have been undermined by the Taliban regime’s persistent tolerance and facilitation of anti-Pakistan militant groups. He further remarked that the regime in Kabul “thrives on a war-driven economy and bears no real sense of responsibility toward the Afghan people,” accusing it of desiring to drag the Afghan population into further conflict. Tarar stressed that Pakistan has always worked for peace and stability in Afghanistan and has borne immense sacrifices in this regard. “Despite countless rounds of dialogue, including recent engagement in Doha and now Istanbul—held at the request of our brotherly partners Qatar and Türkiye—Pakistan’s sincere efforts were met with indifference,” he said. According to Tarar, Pakistan provided “irrefutable evidence” of cross-border terrorism, which was acknowledged by both the Afghan delegation and the host nations. However, no assurances or commitments were made by the Afghan side. “Instead of addressing the core issue that formed the basis of these talks, the Afghan Taliban delegation repeatedly diverted the discussion and resorted to blame-shifting and excuses,” he concluded. He thanked Qatar, Turkiye, and other friendly nations “for their support and sincere efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the problem of terrorism.” Tarar reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security comes first. “The security of its people is of paramount importance to Pakistan,” he said. “We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism and assure them that the Government of Pakistan will continue to employ all the resources which are required in this regard to decimate the terrorists, their sanctuaries, their abetters and supporters.” Taliban stubbornness The Pakistani delegation and Turkiye have been making a last-ditch effort to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism through dialogue with the interim Taliban rulers in Istanbul, sources said. Over the course of the week-long talks, the Afghan delegation repeatedly shifted its stance under instructions from Kabul, slowing progress. On Monday, Pakistan and Afghanistan held 18 hours of discussions, moving the negotiations toward the final day. Security sources said Pakistan had laid out clear, evidence-based counterterrorism demands, but the Taliban’s rigid refusal to cooperate and acknowledge ground realities continued to stall meaningful progress. They said that the Afghan Taliban delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s demand for action against militants and terrorists operating from their soil. Still, they (Taliban) continued to change their stance on instructions from Kabul, the sources added. Both agreed to a ceasefire brokered in Doha on October 19, but could not find common ground in a second round of talks mediated by Turkiye and Qatar in Istanbul, Afghan and Pakistani sources briefed on the issue said, according to Reuters. A Pakistani security source said the Taliban had been unwilling to commit to rein in the TTP, which operates with impunity inside Afghanistan. The sources added that the third day of the Istanbul talks held on Monday was marred by disagreements, with Pakistan insisting on its proposals while the Afghan delegation remained constrained by instructions from Kabul. Mediators also recognised Pakistan’s demands as reasonable and legitimate, the sources said, adding that the Afghan negotiators themselves, interestingly, believed it was right to accept Islamabad’s counterterrorism demands. Security sources said the Afghan Taliban kept taking directions from Kabul and repeatedly consulted the Afghan administration during the talks. “The delegation appears to be under Kabul’s control, creating delays in progress,” they added. According to the sources, Pakistan has consistently stressed that accepting its demands is in everyone’s interest, a point also conveyed to the Taliban side by the host countries. Islamabad-Kabul tensions The two neighbouring nations are witnessing heightened tensions amid the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups operating from its soil, in the backdrop of rising terror attacks in Pakistan. The tensions were escalated when the Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alias Fitna al-Khawarij, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan on October 12. The Pakistan Armed Forces gave a befitting response to the aggression, killing over 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants in a self-defence action. The military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom in the clashes with the Taliban forces and the terrorists. Furthermore, the security forces also conducted “precision strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and the capital Kabul, as well as in the border areas of North and South Waziristan districts, successfully destroying multiple strongholds in response to the aggression. The two sides had agreed on a temporary ceasefire during the Doha talks on October 19 and to hold further meetings to establish a permanent mechanism to ensure peace and stability.
Pakistan-Afghan Taliban Dialogue Collapses in Istanbul, Says Atta tarar
