Pakistan: Taliban Peace Talks Failed   10/29 06:14

   

   ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have 
failed in Istanbul after four days of negotiations, Pakistan's information 
minister said early Wednesday, accusing the Taliban government in Kabul of 
refusing to act against militants blamed for deadly cross-border attacks.

   The talks followed an earlier round in Doha that produced a ceasefire on 
Oct. 19 after deadly border clashes between the two sides left dozens dead, 
including soldiers, civilians and militants.

   However, the ceasefire was still holding and no new clashes were reported 
between Pakistan and Afghanistan hours after the talks collapsed.

   Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militants linked to a surge in 
attacks, while Kabul denies its territory is being used against Pakistan.

   Before dawn Wednesday, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar took 
to social media platform X, saying the dialogue "failed to bring about any 
workable solution," despite mediation by Qatar and Turkey.

   Kabul had no immediate comment.

   The latest development came hours after state media in both countries said 
there was an impasse in the talks, with the state media from the both sides 
blaming each other for the failure to reach a deal.

   Tarar said Pakistan at the request of brotherly countries Qatar and Turkey 
gave peace a chance and engaged with the Afghan Taliban government first in 
Doha and then in Istanbul.

   He accused the Taliban of being "indifferent to Pakistan's losses" even 
though "Pakistan has always desired, advocated and immensely sacrificed for 
peace and prosperity for the people of Afghanistan."

   Tarar said Pakistan was thankful to Qatar and Turkey for facilitating this 
dialogue, which was part of a broader diplomatic push to ease months of 
heightened tension between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border attacks and 
militant safe havens -- issues that have strained relations since the Taliban's 
return to power in Afghanistan four years ago.

   He said that "since the Taliban regime bears no responsibility towards the 
people of Afghanistan and thrives on war economy, it desires to drag and mire 
the Afghan people into a needless war."

   Tarar said "Pakistan's patience has run its course," and warned that 
Islamabad would "continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect 
our people from the menace of terrorism."

   Earlier, on Tuesday, three Pakistani security officials who had direct 
knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that there was a 
deadlock in the talks in Istanbul over the reluctance of Kabul in accepting 
demands about assurances that Afghan soil not be used against Pakistan.

   The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not 
authorized to speak to the media. They said the host country was trying to end 
the deadlock so that the final round of the talks could resume as soon as 
possible.

   According to the Pakistani officials, the Taliban delegation was "not fully 
willing" to accept Pakistan's proposals and continued to seek guidance from 
Kabul before making decisions.

   Afghanistan-controlled media RTA made similar accusations against the 
Pakistani side, saying Kabul "made every effort to hold constructive talks," 
but that the "Pakistani side does not seem to have this intention."

   As the latest round of the talks was underway in Turkey, U.S. President 
Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to help resolve the crisis between the two 
neighbors very quickly.

   The recent fighting prompted Qatar to host the initial round of talks, which 
produced a ceasefire that both sides say is still holding despite the stalemate 
in Istanbul.

   Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali on Tuesday said 
Afghanistan's strategy at the talks was to slow the diplomatic process and 
shift focus to other bilateral issues. He noted Afghanistan's "reluctance to 
give clear, unambiguous and internationally verifiable commitment to act 
against Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban and other militants."

   Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent years, mostly blamed 
on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a group closely allied 
to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Islamabad says the group is being sheltered in 
Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

   Authorities in Pakistan have said the country's military earlier this month 
targeted hideouts of the TTP in Afghanistan. It triggered deadly clashes 
between the two countries until Qatar brokered the ceasefire.

   All border crossings between the two sides have remained shut for more than 
two weeks, with trucks carrying goods stranded pending the reopening of key 
trade routes.