ISLAMABAD; Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed early Wednesday that the latest round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul ended without any breakthrough. “The dialogue failed to produce any workable solution,” Tarar stated on X following the conclusion of the four-day session.
He said Pakistan had long urged Kabul to take firm action against militants involved in cross-border attacks. “Since the Taliban assumed control in Kabul, Pakistan has repeatedly engaged with their regime regarding Indian-backed terror outfits such as the TTP and BLA,” he said.
Tarar added that Pakistan had consistently reminded the Taliban to fulfill their commitments under the Doha Agreement, but “our efforts proved futile due to their continued support for anti-Pakistan terrorists.”
Tarar accused the Afghan regime of thriving on a “war economy” and showing no concern for its own people, warning that its policies risk dragging Afghanistan into unnecessary conflict. He emphasized that Pakistan has always worked for regional peace, holding several rounds of dialogue with sincerity.
“But despite Pakistan’s immense sacrifices, the Afghan side remains indifferent to our losses. After years of restraint, our patience has reached its limit,” he said.
The minister added that Pakistan joined talks in Doha and later in Istanbul at the request of “brotherly countries” Qatar and Turkiye, to give peace another chance. He said Pakistan had presented “clear and irrefutable evidence” of terrorist activity originating from Afghan soil, acknowledged even by the hosts, yet “the Afghan side refused to give assurances.”
“Instead of addressing the core issue, the Taliban delegation resorted to evasion and blame-shifting,” Tarar noted, while thanking Qatar, Turkiye, and other friendly nations for their mediation efforts. He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security remains paramount and vowed that the government “will continue all necessary measures to protect its citizens and eliminate terrorism and its facilitators.”
Stalled Dialogue and Rising Frustration
According to official and security sources, Pakistan and Turkiye made a final attempt to salvage the dialogue, but the Afghan Taliban delegation repeatedly shifted its stance on Kabul’s instructions, impeding progress. On Monday, the two sides held 18 hours of discussions, but the Taliban’s refusal to act against the TTP stalled advancement.
Although both sides had agreed to a ceasefire in Doha earlier this month, they failed to establish a follow-up mechanism in Istanbul. Mediators from Qatar and Turkiye reportedly viewed Pakistan’s demands as reasonable and legitimate, but the Afghan negotiators appeared constrained by orders from Kabul.
The growing tension between Islamabad and Kabul stems from the Taliban regime’s reluctance to act against terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory.
The situation worsened after an unprovoked attack on October 12 by India-backed militants, prompting a strong Pakistani military response that killed over 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters. Pakistan’s armed forces also launched precision strikes inside Afghanistan’s Kandahar and Kabul regions, destroying multiple militant hideouts.
Tarar reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue diplomatic efforts for peace but warned that its security and sovereignty would not be compromised under any circumstances.
