KABUL – Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan have reportedly collapsed, with the Afghan Taliban government placing blame squarely on Islamabad. The latest round of negotiations, held in Turkey, aimed to achieve a lasting ceasefire between the two nations. However, according to a statement released by the Taliban, the talks failed due to Pakistan’s alleged “irresponsible and uncooperative” approach.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid stated that during the discussions, the Pakistani side attempted to place the entire burden of its security on the Afghan government, while showing no willingness to assume any responsibility for Afghanistan’s own security concerns. “This irresponsible and uncooperative stance of the Pakistani delegation led to no progress, despite Afghanistan’s good intentions and the efforts of mediators,” Mujahid said.
The Taliban spokesman further emphasized that the existing ceasefire has not been violated by their side and that they remain committed to upholding it. This statement comes after hints from Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar that the negotiations were faltering. Tarar had previously stated that Kabul was failing to meet its commitments to combat terrorism, adding that Pakistan would continue to pursue all necessary options to protect its people and sovereignty.
DZWatch understands that the two countries held talks in Istanbul on Thursday in an attempt to finalize a truce that was initially agreed upon in Qatar on October 19th. The collapse of these talks raises serious questions about the future of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the prospects for regional stability. The failure to achieve a lasting ceasefire could potentially escalate tensions along the border and further destabilize the region.
Analysts suggest that a lack of trust and differing security priorities are key factors contributing to the breakdown in negotiations. It remains to be seen whether further attempts at mediation will be undertaken to bridge the gap between the two nations.
