ISTANBUL – Pakistan has agreed to continue its negotiations with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul at the request of the host country, Turkiye.
Initially, the Pakistani delegation was set to return after a failed round of talks; however, following Turkiye’s request, they have decided to extend their stay to resume discussions aimed at peace.
The ongoing talks are primarily focused on Pakistan’s central demand: that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable, and effective action against terrorism. Pakistan has reiterated that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorist activities targeting Pakistan.
Reports said Afghan authorities had also made contacts at diplomatic level for resuming the talks.
While past rounds of negotiations, particularly in Istanbul, have seen the Taliban’s stance shift following contact with the Kabul administration, Pakistan remains steadfast in its call for tangible action.
In previous rounds, both the Taliban and Pakistan’s demands were acknowledged by third-party mediators, but the Taliban’s position often changed after discussions with Kabul.
Earlier talks in Doha had resulted in an agreement on a ceasefire, with plans to establish mechanisms for combating terrorism and enhancing surveillance, which were expected to be addressed in the Istanbul talks.
A day earlier, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, in a tweet, said efforts to reach a workable solution regarding the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan have failed.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions and significant evidence provided by Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban regime did not offer any assurances to prevent cross-border terrorism orchestrated by groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), he said.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, in a tweet following the conclusion of the talks, expressed frustration over the lack of progress. The dialogues, held in Doha, Qatar, and Istanbul, Türkiye, were initiated at the request of Qatar and Türkiye to mediate a peaceful resolution. The central agenda was to persuade the Taliban to take action against terrorist organizations using Afghanistan as a base for launching attacks on Pakistan.
While the Afghan Taliban delegation repeatedly acknowledged the substantial evidence presented by Pakistan, which included clear proof of terrorist training camps and logistical support on Afghan soil, they failed to act or provide any solid commitments. Instead, the Taliban delegation resorted to blame games and deflections, shifting responsibility away from themselves and refusing to make any firm commitments on curbing the activities of these terror groups.
Minister Tarar emphasized that Pakistan’s efforts to engage diplomatically with the Afghan Taliban had always been in the spirit of peace and regional security. However, despite years of dialogue and sacrifices for Afghan peace, the Taliban’s continued support for anti-Pakistan terrorists has rendered such engagements increasingly futile.
“Pakistan has always advocated for peace and stability for the people of Afghanistan,” Tarar tweeted. “But when our own security is jeopardized, we must take all necessary steps to protect our citizens and sovereignty.”
