Afghan Defiance: Istanbul Talks Collapse as Mediators Step Back

ISTANBUL / ISLAMABAD (Web Desk): The latest round of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, held in Istanbul, ended without progress as negotiations broke down and the Pakistani delegation returned home.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the dialogue had concluded with no plans for another round in the near future. “Our return empty-handed is evidence that even the mediators have lost hope in Afghanistan,” he stated.

Asif expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Qatar for facilitating the discussions, acknowledging their sincerity and continued support for Pakistan’s position.

According to the defense minister, the Afghan delegation insisted that their verbal assurances should be trusted — a proposal Pakistan found unacceptable. “In international diplomacy, agreements must be documented in writing,” Asif emphasized, adding that while the Afghan side verbally agreed with Pakistan’s stance, they refused to sign a written accord.

“The mediators have also stepped back,” Asif said. “Had they seen any possibility of progress, they would have asked us to stay, but they did not.”

He further warned that any attack on Pakistan from Afghan soil would invite a strong response, but assured that the ceasefire would hold as long as no cross-border aggression occurred. “Our sole demand is that Afghan territory must not be used against Pakistan,” Asif reiterated.

Earlier, Asif had suggested that if the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operatives were beyond Kabul’s control, then Islamabad should be allowed to take action against them inside Afghanistan — and in such a case, Kabul should have no objections.

The third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Istanbul was aimed at addressing cross-border militancy and regional stability but ended in deadlock after both sides failed to reach a written understanding.