Afghanistan–Pakistan truce talks stall in Turkey

Talks aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapsed on Tuesday in Turkey, according to Pakistani security sources, who confirmed that a “last-ditch effort” will be made to reach an agreement.

Following deadly clashes that left dozens dead — including civilians — Kabul and Islamabad had reached a Qatari-mediated ceasefire ten days earlier, and met again in Turkey on Saturday to finalize the details of the truce.

A Pakistani security official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the talks on Monday, their third day, “lasted more than 18 hours” before resuming again on Tuesday.

The source added that the Taliban delegation had “initially agreed to credible and decisive measures” to counter the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) the group Islamabad accuses of launching attacks on its security forces from Afghan territory but “reversed its position several times after receiving irrational directives from Kabul,” leading to the breakdown of the negotiations.

“Despite the Taliban’s obstinacy, final efforts are being made to resolve the issue through dialogue,” the source said, adding that a final round of talks is expected to take place soon.

Kabul has not yet officially commented, but Afghan media quoted several Taliban officials describing Pakistan’s demands as “illogical and unacceptable,” while reaffirming that “negotiations remain the best option for resolving the conflict.”

However, if the talks fail, any attack will be met with “a decisive response that will serve as a lesson to Pakistan and a message to others,” Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani warned in an interview with Afghanistan’s Ariana News Agency.

Qani added:

“We certainly do not possess nuclear weapons, but over twenty years of war, neither NATO nor the United States succeeded in subduing Afghanistan.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Saturday that the failure of negotiations could lead to an “open war.

ANHA