ISTANBUL – A crucial third round of negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan concluded in stalemate on Tuesday, with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) publicly blaming Islamabad’s “irresponsible and uncooperative” approach for the failure to reach any agreement.
The talks, hosted and mediated by Turkey and Qatar, were intended to address the deepening crisis of cross-border militancy that has severely strained relations between the two neighboring countries.
In a detailed statement on his social media platform X, Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the IEA, expressed frustration, stating that despite the Taliban’s “goodwill” and the mediators’ efforts, the Pakistani delegation’s stance led to no positive outcome.
A Clash of Fundamental Positions
The core of the disagreement, as outlined by Mujahid, revolves around a fundamental dispute over responsibility for security. He accused Pakistan of attempting to place the entire onus for its internal security problems on the Afghan government.
“During the talks, the Pakistani side attempted to refer all responsibilities regarding its security to the Afghan government,” Mujahid wrote. “At the same time, it did not demonstrate any willingness to assume responsibility for either Afghanistan’s security or its own.”
This points to the central, long-standing grievance between the two nations. Pakistan has persistently demanded that the Taliban leadership take decisive action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, which Islamabad claims operates from safe havens in Afghanistan. The TTP, a separate group but ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban, has waged a long-term insurgency against the Pakistani state.
Conversely, the IEA has consistently denied providing sanctuary to the TTP and has grown increasingly resentful of what it perceives as Pakistani interference in its internal affairs, including allegations of cross-border shelling and drone strikes.
Reiterated Principles and a Firm Stance
Mujahid’s statement served to reiterate the IEA’s unwavering official position on sovereignty. “The Afghan government reiterates its principled position that it would not allow anyone to use Afghan territory against another country,” he stated. However, he immediately paired this with a defensive caveat, adding that Afghanistan “will not permit any country to use its territory to take actions against or support actions that undermine Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, independence, or security.”
This is a clear reference to Kabul’s suspicions regarding Pakistan’s intelligence services and their historical influence in Afghanistan.
Mujahid emphasized that the IEA delegation participated in the talks “in good faith and with appropriate authority” under the special directives of the reclusive supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada. He expressed the hope that Pakistan would arrive with “realistic and implementable demands,” a formulation suggesting the Taliban view Islamabad’s current expectations as unreasonable.
A Veil over Pakistani Perspectives
As of now, the Pakistani government has not issued an official, detailed response to Mujahid’s specific allegations. Typically, Pakistani officials have framed the talks around the non-negotiable demand for action against the TTP, which it designates as a terrorist organization. The collapse of the Istanbul dialogue suggests that behind closed doors, Pakistan’s demands were met with firm resistance from the Taliban delegation.
Brotherly Words, But a Warning of Defiance
Striking a conciliatory tone toward the Pakistani people while remaining defiant toward their government, Mujahid wrote, “The Muslim people of Pakistan were brothers of Afghans,” and that the IEA wishes them well and hopes for peace.
However, he concluded with a stark warning, framing Afghanistan’s defense as a sacred duty. “The defense of the people and land of Afghanistan was the Islamic and national duty of IEA and it would firmly defend against any aggression with the help of Allah and the support of its people.”
The failure of the Istanbul talks underscores the profound lack of trust between Kabul and Islamabad and leaves the region facing an increasingly volatile and uncertain security situation, with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
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