Deadlock Persists As Istanbul Talks Fail Pakistan Cites Taliban's Unfulfilled Doha Promises

2025-11-07 03:09:06

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network)

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The third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul has ended without any breakthrough, with both sides failing once again to bridge their differences.

Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar, in a statement posted ysocial media, reaffirmed Pakistan's principled position that responsibility for cross-border terrorism originating from Afghan soil lies squarely with the authorities in Kabul.

Tarar said the Afghan Taliban have so far failed to fulfill their international, regional, and bilateral commitments under the Doha Peace Agreement.

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He added that while Pakistan continues to maintain goodwill toward the Afghan people and desires a peaceful future for them, it cannot support any actions by the Taliban government that are not in the interest of Afghanistan's citizens or its neighbors.
The minister emphasized that Pakistan will continue taking all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people. He also thanked Türkiye and Qatar for their role in facilitating the ongoing negotiations.
No Next Round Planned After Istanbul Deadlock: Khawaja Asif

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that there is now a complete deadlock in the Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, and there is no schedule for the next round. He said Pakistan's return from Istanbul empty-handed shows that even the mediators have lost hope in the Afghan side.
In a statement, Khawaja Asif expressed gratitude to Turkiye and Qatar for their sincere mediation efforts, saying both countries supported Pakistan's stance throughout the process.
He said the Afghan delegation wanted Pakistan to accept their verbal assurances, which Islamabad refused, stressing that commitments made during international negotiations must always be in writing.“The Afghan delegation agreed with our position verbally but refused to record it in writing,” he added.
According to the Defence Minister, the talks have now effectively ended.“The mediators have also withdrawn. If they had seen any chance of progress, they would have asked us to stay, and we would have,” he said.
Khawaja Asif said Pakistan's return without any agreement is itself proof that the mediators no longer see any hope in the Afghan side. He warned that if any attack is launched from Afghan territory, Pakistan will respond accordingly.

He added that as long as no aggression comes from across the border, the ceasefire remains valid.“But if there is any violation from the Afghan side, Pakistan will deliver a firm and effective response. Our sole demand is that Afghan soil must not be used for attacks on Pakistan,” he said.
It may be recalled that the third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Istanbul concluded earlier this week without any breakthrough.

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