Talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul have reached a deadlock, as Islamabad insists that Kabul must take responsibility for curbing terrorism originating from its territory. The third round of negotiations, aimed at easing tensions following last month’s deadly border clashes, began on Thursday but failed to produce an agreement, news reported.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar thanked Turkiye and Qatar for mediating the discussions but stressed that Afghanistan has yet to fulfill its long-standing commitments to control terrorism. He underlined Pakistan’s goodwill toward the Afghan people while warning against supporting any Taliban actions that could harm Afghanistan or its neighbors.
“Pakistan will continue to safeguard the security of its citizens and its sovereignty, taking all necessary measures,” Tarar stated.
The deadlock follows the second round of talks on October 25, which collapsed after Pakistan rejected the Taliban delegation’s refusal to address concerns about cross-border terrorism. Mediators encouraged a third round, leading to a temporary ceasefire agreement with monitoring and verification mechanisms, as confirmed in a joint statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The stalemate highlights ongoing tensions at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the challenges in ensuring regional peace and security.
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