Pakistan–Afghanistan Istanbul talks collapse yet again

ISLAMABAD: The latest round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul has collapsed after negotiators failed to bridge deep differences, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirming that discussions are now “over” and have entered an “indefinite phase.”

“Right now, as we speak, negotiations are over,” the defence minister told Geo News late on Friday.

The third round of Pakistan–Afghanistan talks began on Thursday in Istanbul and was scheduled to continue for two days. However, officials confirmed that the talks hit a deadlock.

“The talks in Istanbul are deadlocked,” a senior security source said, adding that no agreement could be reached despite multiple rounds of discussions.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that the talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have reached a deadlock.

In a statement, Tarar said that while the discussions in Istanbul have stalled, Pakistan thanked Turkiye and Qatar for mediating the negotiations.

He reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance that the responsibility for preventing terrorism originating from Afghan soil lies with Afghanistan.

Tarar added that the Afghan Taliban have so far failed to fulfil their international, regional and bilateral commitments under the 2021 Doha Peace Agreement. However, he reaffirmed that Pakistan continues to maintain goodwill toward the Afghan people and remains committed to a peaceful future for Afghanistan.

He further stated that Pakistan would not support any actions by the Taliban government that go against the interests of the Afghan people or neighbouring countries, adding that Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens and sovereignty.

Khawaja Asif said the Afghan Taliban delegation arrived in Istanbul “without any plan” and refused to sign any agreement. “They said they would only respect a verbal agreement, but there is no room for that,” he added.

The defence minister’s remarks indicate growing frustration within Pakistan’s government as efforts to reach an understanding with the Taliban administration continue to face stalemate despite mediation by Türkiye and Qatar.

Earlier, Pakistan had said that there was no deadlock in the talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.

During the weekly press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Afghan soil continues to be used against Pakistan, with cross-border attacks targeting innocent civilians.

Andrabi said that terrorists from Afghanistan plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan, targeting innocent people.”

Pakistan’s primary demand, he said, is that “Afghan territory must not be used against Pakistan.”

Andrabi said that the talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban began in Istanbul a day earlier, being held under the supervision and presence of mediators.