Peace talks with Afghanistan failed in Istanbul, says Pakistan minister

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the latest round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul, Turkeye, failed to bring about any workable solution.

Regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances, kept deviating from the core issue and resorted to blame game, deflection and ruses," Tarar said on X after four days of negotiations brokered by Qatar and Turkey.

"Pakistan had long sought cooperation from Kabul against militants targeting the country,” he said.

"The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution." Tarar said Pakistan engaged with Afghanistan in the spirit of peace, but accused Kabul of "unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists." "We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism," he added.

Hours later, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned on X that "any terrorist attack or any suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures."

Afghanistan has not commented so far.

"Ever since the assumption of control in Kabul, Pakistan has repeatedly engaged with the Afghan Taliban regime regarding persistent cross-border terrorism by Fitna Al Khawarij (TTP) and Fitna Al Hindustan (BLA).”

Tarar added that Islamabad had asked the Taliban regime "time and again to fulfil their written commitments to Pakistan and to the international community in the Doha Agreement.”

However, he said Pakistan’s fervent efforts proved futile due to the Afghan Taliban Regime’s unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists.

"The Taliban regime bears no responsibility towards the people of Afghanistan and thrives on a war economy,” he said, adding that it "desires to drag and mire the Afghan people into a needless war.

"Pakistan has always desired, advocated and immensely sacrificed for peace and prosperity for the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

"In the same spirit, Pakistan has held countless rounds of talks and parlays with the Afghan Taliban Regime, but unfortunately, they have always remained indifferent to Pakistan’s losses. Sadly, after sustaining such huge losses of men and material for four long years, Pakistan’s patience has run its course.”

The minister said Pakistan joined the talks in Doha and later Istanbul "to give peace a chance,” acting on the request of "brotherly countries of Qatar and Turkey.”

He said Pakistan presented "sufficient and irrefutable evidence” of terrorist activity, which "was acknowledged by Afghan Taliban and the hosts,” but "regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances.”

"The Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue, evading the key point upon which the dialogue process was initiated. Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to a blame game, deflection, and ruses,” Tarar said and thanked Qatar, Turkeye, and other friendly nations "for their support and sincere efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the problem of terrorism.”

Tarar reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security comes first. "The security of its people is of paramount importance to Pakistan,” he said.

"We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism and assure them that the Government of Pakistan will continue to employ all the resources which are required in this regard to decimate the terrorists, their sanctuaries, their abetters and supporters.”

The Pakistani delegation and Turkey have been making a last-ditch effort to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism through dialogue with the interim Taliban rulers in Istanbul, officials said.

Over the course of the week-long talks, the Afghan delegation repeatedly shifted its stance under instructions from Kabul, slowing progress.