“Unrealistic,” Taliban Reject Pakistan’s Demands in Istanbul Talks

DID Press: Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Naeem, said on Monday that recent talks between Afghan and Pakistani delegations in Istanbul ended without results.

Naeem told a group of foreign diplomats in Kabul that the Pakistani delegation had presented demands that the Taliban considered “neither realistic nor practical.”

“Pakistan is attempting to shift responsibility for its internal security challenges onto Afghanistan,” he said, adding that such an approach benefits neither Islamabad nor bilateral relations.

He also criticized the Pakistani delegation for a lack of responsibility and cooperation, which he said hindered mediators’ efforts to advance the dialogue process.

Despite the failed negotiations, Naeem said Kabul remains in contact with intermediary countries and is ready for diplomatic talks if Pakistan engages sincerely and realistically to resolve bilateral issues.