Istanbul Talks with Taliban Failed, says Pakistan

DID Press: Pakistan’s Minister of Information has confirmed the collapse of four days of talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government in Istanbul, citing Taliban delegation’s unwillingness to address Islamabad’s core security concerns.

Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, announced late Tuesday (October 29) on X that the four-day dialogue between Pakistani and Taliban delegations in Istanbul ended without a concrete outcome.

According to Tarar, the Taliban side avoided discussion of key issues, including cross-border attacks by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other security threats along the frontier, and showed “no readiness” to address Islamabad’s concerns.

Appreciating Qatar and Türkey mediation role, Tarar effectively confirmed the end of this round of talks, saying: “The Government of Pakistan has taken all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens. The security of our people is a national priority and non-negotiable.”

While Taliban officials have yet to comment, sources familiar with the talks reported heightened tensions and deep divisions between the two sides over handling TTP militants and recent Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan territory.

Analysts warn that the breakdown of Istanbul talks can lead to renewed border clashes and retaliatory operations in the coming weeks.