Pakistan announced on Friday that the latest round of talks with the Afghan Taliban, mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, concluded in Istanbul without achieving a breakthrough. The discussions, aimed at curbing cross-border terrorism, failed to produce concrete assurances or verifiable action from the Taliban government against anti-Pakistan militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andarabi said in a statement that the third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, held on November 7, followed earlier sessions in Doha and aimed to finalize an implementation and monitoring mechanism. However, Islamabad’s patience, he said, had worn thin due to the Taliban’s repeated “hollow promises.”
“Pakistan’s engagement with Afghanistan has always been constructive,” Andarabi said, noting that Pakistan extended trade concessions, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic outreach to encourage stability and peace in Afghanistan. Despite these efforts, he added, militant attacks emanating from Afghan soil have sharply increased since August 2021.
The Doha talks earlier produced a temporary ceasefire, but the Istanbul meetings were meant to build on that progress. Pakistan’s core demand, according to the FO, remained verifiable action against groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — also referred to as Fitnatul Khawarij — and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), known as Fitnatul Hindustan.
Instead of addressing these concerns, the Afghan delegation allegedly attempted to “dilute and deflect” the discussion, raising unrelated allegations. The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan’s response to recent cross-border attacks showed its firm resolve to defend its sovereignty and citizens.
While the Taliban side claimed that the ceasefire would hold despite the failed talks, Islamabad reiterated that peace could only be sustained if Kabul took credible measures against militant sanctuaries. “Definite and concrete actions have to be taken to safeguard the interests and lives of the people of Pakistan,” Andarabi said.
The FO also rejected Taliban attempts to frame the issue as a domestic Pakistani matter or an ethnic divide, stressing that Pakistan stands united behind its armed forces in combating terrorism. The statement concluded with a firm message: “There will be no compromise on national security — whether at the negotiating table or on the ground.”
