The Istanbul talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban concluded inconclusively, with Afghan Taliban failing to bridge deep differences on security and counter terrorism issues. Despite the best efforts of mediators Turkiye and Qatar, the dialogue ended in a deadlock, though the peace process is expected to continue in an attempt to break the impasse.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the delegation has returned home after what he described as “a complete deadlock.”
“The talks have ended. There is no progress, and for now, no new round is planned,” Asif said.
Diplomatic sources in Istanbul said that Qatar and Turkiye, who facilitated the two-day discussions, are expected to continue their back-channel engagement to revive the process. However, the talks concluded inconclusively, what officials described as the Afghan Taliban’s rigid approach.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar thanked the “brotherly nations” for their mediation but reiterated that Afghanistan has failed to meet its commitments under the 2020 Doha Accord.
“Onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfil its long-standing international, regional, and bilateral pledges regarding control of terrorism — in which so far they have failed,” Tarar stated in a post on X.
He added that while Pakistan holds goodwill toward the Afghan people, it will not endorse any policies or actions by the Taliban regime that threaten regional peace or Pakistan’s sovereignty.
“Pakistan shall never support any action by the Taliban regime that is detrimental to the Afghan people or neighbouring countries,” he said.
Experts note that the international community must remind the Afghan Taliban of the two key pledges made in the Doha Peace Agreement:
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To engage in intra-Afghan dialogue for a lasting political solution.
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To prevent any group or individual in Taliban-controlled territory from threatening other nations.
While the Istanbul talks ended without a breakthrough, diplomatic sources indicated that efforts will continue through regional and international partners to revive dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul in the coming weeks.
