The latest round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government in Istanbul has ended without any breakthrough, prompting Islamabad to announce full-scale action against terrorists and their facilitators.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the failure of the four-day talks, citing Kabul’s reluctance to act against terror groups operating from Afghan soil.
Talks fail amid rising tensions
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the Istanbul negotiations, held in October 2025 and mediated by Qatar and Turkey, failed to yield results despite Pakistan’s presentation of “actionable and concrete evidence” against India-backed terrorist groups.
He said the talks focused solely on ensuring Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against Pakistan, but the Afghan delegation “avoided making any actionable assurances despite accepting logical and legitimate demands.”
Tarar accused the Taliban side of resorting to “accusations, evasions, and cunning excuses,” claiming their behavior derailed progress. “Our efforts proved futile due to the continued support of anti-Pakistan terrorists by the Afghan Taliban,” he said.
Evidence presented, no assurances given
Pakistan reportedly placed irrefutable evidence before the Afghan side and mediators, which was acknowledged by all parties, including host countries Qatar and Turkey. However, Islamabad said no practical commitment came from Kabul.
“Pakistan has repeatedly protested against cross-border operations by Indian-backed terrorist organizations — Fitna-ul-Khawarij (TTP) and Fitna-ul-Hindustan (BLA) — and demanded the implementation of Doha Agreement pledges,” Tarar said.
He added that Islamabad’s “patience has run out” after four years of heavy human and financial losses in its counterterrorism efforts.
Taliban accused of “war wconomy”
Tarar criticized the Afghan Taliban government, calling it “non-representative of the Afghan people” and accusing it of thriving on a “war economy.” He said the regime “desires to drag and mire the Afghan people into a needless war,” further destabilizing the region.
He emphasized that Pakistan “has always advocated peace and prosperity for the Afghan people” and has sacrificed immensely for regional stability. “Sadly, the Taliban regime remains indifferent to Pakistan’s losses,” he added.
Pakistan’s patience “has run its course”
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also issued a stern warning, saying, “If Islamabad even looks at it, it will gouge out its eyes,” referring to the Afghan Taliban’s inaction against terrorist groups. He dismissed the notion that talks with the banned TTP could prevent terrorism.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Tarar said Pakistan joined the Istanbul and earlier Doha talks “to give peace a chance” at the request of Qatar and Turkey. However, the Afghan side “kept deviating from the core issue” and “resorted to blame games and deflection.”
Mediation efforts and security context
The Istanbul talks followed a temporary ceasefire reached in Doha on October 19. Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to continue discussions for a lasting mechanism to ensure peace and stability.
However, sources said the Afghan delegation kept shifting its stance under instructions from Kabul, delaying meaningful progress. “The delegation appeared to be under Kabul’s control, creating delays,” one security source noted.
Pakistan insisted that its counterterrorism demands were “reasonable and in everyone’s interest,” a position also supported by host countries.
Cross-border clashes escalate
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have surged amid rising cross-border attacks. On October 12, the Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al-Khawarij, launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistan.
In response, the Pakistan Armed Forces conducted precision strikes inside Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, Kabul, and border regions of North and South Waziristan. The military’s media wing, ISPR, confirmed that over 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants were killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.
Pakistan thanks mediators
Despite the breakdown, Pakistan expressed gratitude to Turkey and Qatar for their mediation and “sincere efforts” to bring about peace. Tarar reaffirmed that Pakistan’s “national security and the protection of its citizens remain paramount.”
He said the government “will continue to employ all necessary resources to eliminate terrorists, their sanctuaries, and their facilitators.”
