Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have reportedly hit a deadlock as Islamabad has accused the Taliban of taking an “illogical and detached” position on key security issues, including cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts, according to Pakistani media.
The second round of talks in Istanbul on Saturday came a week after the initial negotiations in Doha, held in the wake of the October 16 ceasefire that ended the deadliest clashes between the two sides since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.
As per the Geo News report, Pakistan has presented “clear, evidence-based and solution-oriented” demands to the Taliban on curbing cross-border militancy, but the report said the Islamist group’s inflexibility and “illogical” arguments have cast serious doubt on their willingness to cooperate.
Radio Pakistan reported that the second round of talks focused on creating a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb cross-border militant movements and ease trade barriers.
The discussions also touched upon the prospect of forging a long-term political understanding between the two sides.
Citing sources, the Geo News report said the “Taliban have remained unwilling to cooperate or acknowledge ground realities”.
Turkey is reportedly trying to help the Taliban delegation understand the seriousness of Pakistan’s concerns, the report said, adding that Islamabad has presented its final position, warning that any tolerance or shelter for militants targeting its territory will be unacceptable.
“Islamabad pressed the Taliban to take firm, verifiable action against terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil,” it added.
In the first phase of discussions held in Istanbul on October 19, Pakistan had submitted a detailed counterterrorism plan to Kabul, which the Afghan side responded at around 2 am on Sunday.
As the second round of talks resumed, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned of an “all-out war” with the Taliban if peace talks fail.
While speaking to reporters, he noted that there had been no border clashes in the past four to five days and that around 80 per cent of the points agreed upon during the first round of talks in Doha were already being implemented.
DONALD TRUMP PLEDGES TO RESOLVE PAK-AFGHAN CONFLICT
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for helping end global conflicts, has now made a similar pledge – this time to mediate and prevent the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
While speaking at the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Trump on Sunday said, “We’re averaging one (war) a month. There is only one left, although I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But I’ll get that solved very quickly. I know them both.
“And the Pakistan Field Marshal and the Prime Minister are great people, and I have no doubt we’re going to get that done quickly,” he added.
The President added that resolving conflicts was something he could “do nicely. I don’t need to do it, I guess. But if I can take time and save millions of lives, that’s really a great thing. I can’t think of anything better to do.”
Earlier this month, at the Gaza Peace Summit, Sharif described Trump as a “man of peace” and credited him with helping defuse tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Despite Trump’s numerous claims to end the India-Pakistan conflict, New Delhi has maintained that no third-party mediation was involved in the ceasefire with Islamabad.
