The two-day Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Istanbul concluded on Sunday without achieving any significant progress, as the Afghan Taliban delegation remained unwilling to take verifiable measures against the Tehreek i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups based in Afghanistan. Despite nearly nine hours of detailed discussions, both sides were unable to agree on a plan to curb cross-border terrorism.
Officials involved in the discussions said that the Pakistani delegation presented its final position, insisting that the Taliban government take concrete and verifiable steps to eliminate militant networks responsible for recent attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad also shared photographic and documentary evidence showing that the TTP, BLA, and several other outfits continue to use Afghan territory as a base for operations against Pakistan.
The Afghan side, however, declined to provide any written assurances, a move that Pakistani officials saw as a lack of seriousness and commitment. Taliban representatives, reportedly receiving directions from Kabul and Kandahar, instead proposed direct negotiations between Pakistan and the TTP. Islamabad rejected the idea, stressing that it is the Taliban’s responsibility to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from their soil rather than act as mediators.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Istanbul were also overshadowed by reports of Indian ceasefire violations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Leepa Sector, along with infiltration attempts across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Kurram and North Waziristan. Sources within Pakistan’s security agencies linked these incidents to what they described as the Taliban’s questionable intentions and inconsistent approach toward militant groups.
Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, the Istanbul dialogue came after the October 19 Doha ceasefire, which had temporarily reduced border tensions following a week of deadly clashes. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the Pakistan-Afghanistan talks ended without a consensus on the TTP crackdown, leaving the future of bilateral cooperation uncertain. Progress now largely depends on whether the Afghan Taliban decides to take firm and transparent action against militant sanctuaries threatening Pakistan’s national security.
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