Pakistan-Taliban dialogue ends without results, no agreement on cross-border terrorism

Islamabad: Pakistan has seriously accused the Afghan Taliban government of promoting cross-border terrorism and said that the four-day peace talks held in Istanbul were a complete failure. Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said on Wednesday that Kabul has clearly refused to take any action against the terrorists. The talks began after the ceasefire agreement in Doha, which came into effect on October 19.

Why did the talks start?

Under the mediation of Qatar and Turkey, representatives of Pakistan and Afghanistan sat face-to-face first in Doha and then in Istanbul. Pakistan's demand was that Afghanistan should take concrete action against organizations like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from its soil. Islamabad claims that after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the TTPfound safe havens in Afghanistan, leading to an increase in the number of attacks in Pakistan.

What happened in Istanbul?

Despite continuous meetings lasting four days, no consensus could be reached. Minister Tarar said, “We gave peace a chance at the request of brotherly countries Qatar and Turkey, but the Taliban government showed complete indifference towards Pakistan’s losses.” He accused the Taliban of running a “war-based economy” and plunging the Afghan people into unnecessary conflict.

What is Kabul's side?

Afghan state media RTA rejected Pakistan's allegations, saying Kabul tried its best for constructive talks, but "the intentions of the Pakistani delegation were wrong from the beginning." The Afghan government has repeatedly claimed that its land is not being used against Pakistan. It was reported that Taliban representatives kept seeking permission from Kabul before taking a decision on every proposal, which delayed the talks.

Is the ceasefire still in force?

Both sides have acknowledged that the ceasefire that came into force on October 19 is still in effect, but the borders have been closed for more than two weeks. Due to this, thousands of trucks are stranded on major trade routes, and the economies of both countries are suffering huge losses. Prices of essential commodities are increasing rapidly due to a halt in cargo transportation.

Why is Pakistan's patience breaking?

Information Minister Tarar warned that “Pakistan's patience has now run out.” He said that Islamabad will take all necessary steps for the safety of its citizens. This month, the Pakistani Army carried out air strikes on TTP positions in Afghanistan, in response to which clashes broke out on the border, and dozens of soldiers, civilians, and terrorists were killed.

Now what's next?

Even though the Istanbul talks could not yield results, the host country, Turkey, is still trying to break the deadlock. According to Pakistani security officials, the Taliban delegation did not have independent decision-making power. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump on Sunday appealed to both countries to find a solution soon.

Pakistan says that it wants peace and stability in Afghanistan but will not accept cross-border terrorism under any circumstances. At the same time, the Taliban has been continuously shrugging off the issue, calling it an “internal matter” of Pakistan. This tension that has been going on for four years still shows no signs of ending.