Final bid underway to salvage Pakistan-Afghan Taliban talks amid deadlock over anti-terror action

WEB DESK: Diplomatic sources have revealed that one final attempt is underway to salvage the ongoing dialogue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, as both sides struggle to break a persistent deadlock over action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

The third round of talks, held in Istanbul, lasted nearly 18 hours but ended without concrete progress. According to sources, the Afghan Taliban delegation initially agreed multiple times to Pakistan’s demand for credible and verifiable operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other cross-border militant outfits. However, each time the delegation’s stance shifted following directives from Kabul, derailing potential consensus.

Officials involved in the negotiations said non-cooperative guidance from Kabul had made the discussions “needlessly difficult.” Still, Pakistan and the host country continue to pursue a measured, diplomatic approach, hoping to bring the process back on track.

The talks are now poised for what insiders describe as a decisive and possibly final round, contingent on whether the Afghan Taliban leadership demonstrates genuine commitment to act against terrorist networks undermining regional peace and security.

Earlier last weekend, during Sunday’s session, Pakistan presented its final position, warning that it would not tolerate any Afghan patronage or shelter for terrorist groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad demanded concrete, verifiable action to dismantle militant networks, describing its proposals as “clear and evidence-based.”

Sources said Pakistan found the Taliban’s responses illogical and disconnected from ground realities, hinting at a separate agenda that undermines regional stability. Security officials said further dialogue depends on a constructive shift in the Taliban’s approach. The Istanbul round, hosted by Turkish mediators, followed an earlier session in Doha. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif later cautioned that continued failure of diplomacy could carry serious consequences for bilateral and regional security.