Pakistan, Afghanistan peace talks' third day fails to yield any breakthrough

Istanbul (Web Desk): The talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan underway in Istanbul have once again reached an impasse, with no progress on Islamabad’s principal demand for a definitive roadmap to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from Afghan territory.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, both sides met for another round of dialogue on Monday under the mediation of Turkish officials, who have been attempting to bridge the widening gap. However, until the filing of this report, the process remained stalled as the Taliban representatives refused to provide any written guarantees.

“The third day of the negotiations in Istanbul is also proving difficult,” a security official disclosed. “Pakistan’s position is based on logical and fair expectations, yet the Afghan delegation is not prepared to fully acknowledge them,” the source said.

Pakistan has maintained a firm line, making it clear that any cooperation with the Taliban administration depends on tangible action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch insurgents, and other groups launching attacks from Afghan soil.

“The message from Islamabad has been unambiguous—there will be no compromise on terrorism,” another official commented. “Pakistan has tabled concrete proposals that call for verifiable steps to dismantle TTP’s presence and prevent cross-border assaults.”

While Afghan negotiators reportedly showed some flexibility toward a few proposals, sources said their delegation lacked full authority from Kabul and Kandahar, which limited their ability to make commitments.

Interestingly, even some members of the Afghan team are said to agree in principle with Pakistan’s concerns but continue to follow directions from their leadership. “It’s apparent they are being guided by Kabul,” a security source observed.

“The absence of a positive signal from Kabul’s power circles has stalled the process, suggesting that certain quarters there might be pursuing a different agenda.”

This round of talks followed nearly nine hours of discussions on Sunday, during which Pakistan reiterated its single-point demand that peace and cooperation would only advance if the Afghan side takes decisive measures against groups targeting Pakistan.

The dialogue has been overshadowed by a surge in border incidents, with Pakistan reporting several infiltration attempts from Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that Pakistani forces had thwarted two such attempts by “Fitna al-Khawarij” terrorists.

“It is significant to note that these infiltration bids are occurring while Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in talks in Turkiye,” the ISPR statement read. “These actions cast serious doubts on the interim Afghan government’s intentions regarding terrorism emanating from its territory.”

Islamabad has consistently urged Kabul to strengthen border management and fulfil commitments under the Doha Agreement by preventing its soil from being used against Pakistan.

Officials indicated that diplomatic efforts were still underway to prevent a complete breakdown of the process, though a breakthrough appears unlikely without a clear directive from the Afghan leadership to act against the TTP.

Turkiye, which is hosting the discussions and mediating alongside Qatar, continues its efforts to steer both sides toward an understanding. Security sources noted that the host nations share the view that Pakistan’s demands are fair and essential for regional stability.

“The Pakistani team has repeatedly stressed that these demands align with the interests of both countries,” a source remarked. “The host nations have also conveyed to the Afghan side that fulfilling these requests would serve everyone’s long-term benefit.”