Durani: Taliban Must Choose Between Pakistan and TTP

DID Press: Asif Ali Khan Durani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, said the resumption of talks between Islamabad and the Taliban government in Istanbul reflects Pakistan’s flexibility — but warned that the Taliban cannot simultaneously maintain relations with both the Pakistani state and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Durani welcomed the renewed dialogue between delegations from the Taliban government and Pakistan in Istanbul in a post on X, calling it “a positive step toward resolving bilateral disputes.”

However, he stressed that the Taliban leadership must make a clear strategic choice. “The Taliban must choose between the TTP and the Government of Pakistan. One cannot hunt with the hound and run with the hare,” he wrote.

His remarks come as three days of talks between the two sides in Istanbul — mediated by Türkiye and Qatar — concluded without progress. Diplomatic observers warn that failure of the negotiations may sharply escalate tensions between Islamabad and Kabul and threaten regional stability.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had warned that if the talks fail, there is a real possibility of direct military confrontation between the two countries. During the discussions, he cautioned that any attack on Islamabad would be met with a “fifty-fold stronger” response.

While the first round of talks between the Taliban government and Pakistan in Doha in October resulted in a temporary ceasefire agreement, reports early Thursday (29 October) indicated that both sides intend to restart peace negotiations once again in Türkiye.