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Peace Talks to Defuse Pakistan–Afghanistan Tensions Fall Apart
(MENAFN) Efforts to prevent renewed clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border have unraveled after peace talks in Istanbul collapsed, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday.
In an interview with media, Asif warned that the fragile ceasefire would only hold if attacks from Afghan territory ceased. His remarks were confirmed by Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, who stated that the negotiations had indeed broken down.
The two countries began their third round of discussions in Türkiye on Thursday, aiming to defuse tensions following last month’s deadly border violence. The Istanbul talks came after a five-day meeting in Doha in October that produced a temporary ceasefire.
“There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase,” Khawaja Asif said, emphasizing that there is “no program for the fourth round of talks.”
The minister expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Qatar for their mediation efforts, noting that “They support our stance. Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement,” he said. Asif added that Pakistan would only accept a formal deal. “They wanted verbal assurances to be accepted, which is not possible in international negotiations,” he added.
Mujahid attributed the failure to Pakistan’s demand that Afghanistan take responsibility for Islamabad’s internal security—something he said exceeded Kabul’s “capacity.” Nevertheless, he stressed that “The ceasefire that has been established has not been violated by us so far, and it will continue to be observed.”
On the same day the talks began, Afghan and Pakistani troops exchanged fire near Spin Boldak, a border town in southern Afghanistan, both governments confirmed. Each side accused the other of initiating the gunfire along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.
The neighboring nations also clashed last month in the deadliest border fighting since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, leaving dozens dead. Islamabad has accused Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants—a charge the Taliban government has consistently denied.
In an interview with media, Asif warned that the fragile ceasefire would only hold if attacks from Afghan territory ceased. His remarks were confirmed by Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, who stated that the negotiations had indeed broken down.
The two countries began their third round of discussions in Türkiye on Thursday, aiming to defuse tensions following last month’s deadly border violence. The Istanbul talks came after a five-day meeting in Doha in October that produced a temporary ceasefire.
“There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase,” Khawaja Asif said, emphasizing that there is “no program for the fourth round of talks.”
The minister expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Qatar for their mediation efforts, noting that “They support our stance. Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement,” he said. Asif added that Pakistan would only accept a formal deal. “They wanted verbal assurances to be accepted, which is not possible in international negotiations,” he added.
Mujahid attributed the failure to Pakistan’s demand that Afghanistan take responsibility for Islamabad’s internal security—something he said exceeded Kabul’s “capacity.” Nevertheless, he stressed that “The ceasefire that has been established has not been violated by us so far, and it will continue to be observed.”
On the same day the talks began, Afghan and Pakistani troops exchanged fire near Spin Boldak, a border town in southern Afghanistan, both governments confirmed. Each side accused the other of initiating the gunfire along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.
The neighboring nations also clashed last month in the deadliest border fighting since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, leaving dozens dead. Islamabad has accused Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants—a charge the Taliban government has consistently denied.
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