Ankara: Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have collapsed in Istanbul after four days of negotiations, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced early Wednesday, accusing the Taliban government in Kabul of refusing to act against militants responsible for deadly cross-border attacks.
The discussions, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, followed an earlier round in Doha that resulted in a ceasefire on October 19 after violent border clashes left dozens dead, including soldiers, civilians, and militants.
Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan is sheltering militants linked to a recent surge in attacks, a claim the Taliban has consistently denied.
In a post on X, Tarar said the dialogue “failed to bring about any workable solution,” despite sustained mediation efforts. There has been no immediate response from Kabul regarding his remarks.
State media in both countries earlier reported a deadlock, each side blaming the other for the failure to reach an agreement.
Tarar said Pakistan had given peace “a sincere chance” at the request of “brotherly countries” Qatar and Turkey, first engaging with the Taliban in Doha and later in Istanbul. However, he accused Kabul of being “indifferent to Pakistan’s losses,” despite Islamabad’s longstanding support for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He thanked Qatar and Turkey for their diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that the dialogue was part of a broader initiative to ease rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy — a persistent issue since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
According to Tarar, “the Taliban regime bears no responsibility towards the Afghan people and thrives on a war economy,” claiming it seeks to “drag the Afghan people into a needless conflict.”
Declaring that “Pakistan’s patience has run its course,” he warned that Islamabad would take “all necessary measures to protect our people from terrorism.”
Earlier, three Pakistani security officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the talks had reached a stalemate due to Kabul’s reluctance to provide assurances that Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against Pakistan. The officials added that Turkey was attempting to mediate further discussions to end the impasse.
The officials said the Taliban delegation was “not fully willing” to accept Pakistan’s proposals and repeatedly sought guidance from Kabul before making decisions.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s state broadcaster RTA accused Pakistan of lacking the will for “constructive talks,” saying Kabul had made “every effort” to resolve differences.
Amid the diplomatic deadlock, U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to help “very quickly” resolve tensions between the two neighbours.
Despite the ongoing stalemate, both sides have said that the ceasefire brokered by Qatar earlier this month remains in place.
Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali said Afghanistan appeared to be deliberately slowing the negotiations while avoiding clear commitments to act against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and other militants operating from its soil.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in militant violence in recent years, mostly blamed on the TTP — a group allied with the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad claims that the TTP has been given sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s military reportedly targeted TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan, sparking deadly clashes until the Doha ceasefire was reached.
Meanwhile, all major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain closed for over two weeks, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded and key trade routes paralyzed.
