ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, announced on Wednesday that the latest round of talks between Islamabad and Kabul in Istanbul had “failed to bring about any workable solution.”
The discussions — mediated by Qatar and Türkiye — followed earlier negotiations in Doha, focusing on Pakistan’s demand that the Afghan Taliban prevent their territory from being used by militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), both described by Islamabad as “Indian proxies.”.
This marked Pakistan’s first formal announcement confirming the failure of the talks. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistani security officials had disclosed that the latest round of Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations in Istanbul had ended without any tangible outcome, after the Afghan delegation abruptly withdrew from a nearly finalized draft agreement, effectively derailing the dialogue, according to the officials.
Pakistan Blames Kabul for Inaction
Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, Pakistan has faced a sharp surge in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory. The TTP’s operational networks have expanded under what security analysts describe as a “resurgence” enabled by Taliban patronage. These attacks have targeted civilians, security forces, and border posts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Tarar accused the Taliban regime of providing “unabated support” to anti-Pakistan terrorist groups despite repeated assurances under the 2020 Doha Agreement. “Pakistan’s efforts proved futile,” he said, adding that the Taliban “thrive on a war economy” and aim to “drag the Afghan people into a needless conflict.”
He noted that Islamabad had “immensely sacrificed for peace and prosperity” in Afghanistan but that “after sustaining huge losses for four years, Pakistan’s patience has run its course.”
Tarar said sufficient and irrefutable evidence was provided by Pakistan, which was acknowledged by the Afghan Taliban and the hosts; however, regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances.
The Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue, evading the key point upon which the dialogue process was initiated, he added. Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to a blame game, deflection, and ruses. “The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution,” said Tarar.
Evidence Presented, But No Assurance Given
Despite the failure of the Istanbul round, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful dialogue, maintaining that stability in Afghanistan is vital for regional peace. However, officials emphasized that peace cannot exist without accountability and verifiable counterterrorism action.
According to Tarar, during the four days of the Istanbul dialogue, Pakistan presented “sufficient and irrefutable evidence” of cross-border militant activity, which was acknowledged by both the Taliban and the mediators. However, he said the Afghan side “gave no assurances” and “kept deviating from the core issue.”
“Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to a blame game and deflection,” the minister said.
Syed Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst, observed that the Afghan Taliban’s approach during the Istanbul Talks appeared calculated to delay progress, divert attention from counterterrorism, and avoid binding international commitments.
“Their diplomatic strategy clearly reflects a reluctance to engage sincerely — using delay tactics, shifting the agenda away from counterterrorism, and resisting any clear, verifiable commitment to act against Afghanistan-based groups such as the TTP and BLA,” he said.
Pakistan Vows Security Measures
A senior official present at the Istanbul talks revealed that on the night of October 27–28, negotiations stretched for 18 hours, during which both sides finalized a draft agreement three separate times. After the third revision, Pakistan’s lead negotiator, General Shahab Aslam, sought verbal confirmation from the Afghan side, asking whether it was “final.” The delegation agreed — only to retract minutes later after a phone call with Kabul, stunning the mediators from Türkiye and Qatar.
The talks ultimately collapsed after Afghanistan again refused to translate its verbal assurances into verifiable action. Sources said the three-day negotiations — held a week after the Doha round — ran nearly 50 hours in total. Pakistan’s stance remained firm: the Afghan Taliban must end support for the TTP and BLA and ensure Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan.
As mediators from Türkiye and Qatar expressed disappointment at Kabul’s stance, Islamabad maintained its position: Afghan soil must not be used to threaten Pakistan, and any further aggression will invite a proportionate and sovereign response.
Despite the failed talks, Islamabad thanked Qatar, Türkiye, and other “friendly states” for their mediation efforts. Tarar reiterated that Pakistan would “continue to employ all resources” to dismantle terrorist networks, their sanctuaries, and their supporters. Tarar said Pakistan would continue to take “all possible measures” to protect its people from cross-border terrorism.
“The security of our people is of paramount importance,” he said, affirming that Pakistan would not allow its citizens to “remain at the mercy of cross-border terror.”
