Taliban–Pakistan Talks Fail in Istanbul as Tensions Deepen

DID Press: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawja Muhammad Asif announced that the third round of negotiations between Islamabad and the Taliban government in Afghanistan ended without any concrete agreement. He attributed the failure of the talks to “deep and unresolved differences” between the two sides.

According to Asif, the two-day discussions in Istanbul aimed at establishing a joint framework for border security and a ceasefire produced no tangible results. He emphasized that any truce between the two countries would depend on the condition that no attacks are carried out against Pakistan from Afghan soil.

The third round of talks, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, began on Thursday and concluded on Friday. However, disagreements over how to curb militant groups — including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — prevented progress.

While the defense minister confirmed the talks had failed, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andarabi, separately claimed there was “no deadlock” in the peace process with the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Noorullah Noori, the Taliban’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, responded to Pakistan’s statements by warning Islamabad not to be “overconfident” in its military capabilities. Addressing Asif, he said: “Mr. Khawaja, the Russians and Americans are far from us, but we and you are linked in Punjab and Sindh.”

Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, also accused the Taliban government of “failing to uphold international commitments and the Doha Agreement,” stressing that Kabul bears responsibility for preventing terrorist activities on its soil.

Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that militants use Afghanistan territory to launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan, a claim the Taliban have consistently denied. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that it has shared evidence with the Turkish and Qatari mediators, who it said “supported Pakistan’s position.”

Sources close to the Taliban government had previously described the first day of the Istanbul talks as “positive,” but it remains unclear whether the two sides will pursue alternative channels for continued dialogue after this failed round.