Peace Talks Fail, Taliban Labels Pakistan ‘Irresponsible’

The Taliban government has blamed Pakistan for the failure of peace talks held in Istanbul under the mediation of Qatar and Turkey. However, despite recent border clashes, the Taliban stated that the previously signed ceasefire agreement would remain in place.

According to a report by the Reuters news agency, the third round of talks concluded yesterday, Friday, without reaching any resolution. Shortly before this, the Taliban claimed that several Afghan civilians had been killed and injured in clashes with Pakistan along the border.

The two-day discussions were conducted “in good faith,” Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on Saturday morning in a social media post. He said the talks had been carried out with honest intentions and that the Taliban had hoped Islamabad would present “realistic and implementable demands to reach a fundamental solution.”

However, he accused Pakistan of attempting to place the full responsibility for security on the Afghan government during the discussions, while showing no willingness to uphold its own responsibilities or ensure Afghanistan’s security.

Mujahid said that Pakistan displayed an “irresponsible and uncooperative attitude” in the talks, resulting in no progress being made. In a subsequent press conference, he affirmed that the Taliban had not violated the ceasefire agreement and that it would remain in force.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government did not provide an immediate response to the Taliban’s statement. On Friday, Islamabad also acknowledged that the talks were at an impasse, although the ceasefire facilitated by Qatar remains active.

Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Ataullah Tarar stated that Islamabad “will not support any actions by the Taliban government against the interests of the Afghan people or neighbouring countries.”

Pakistan has accused the Kabul government of failing to fulfil commitments made to the international community under the 2021 Doha peace agreement, particularly in combating terrorism. Islamabad claims that Afghanistan is providing shelter to armed groups, such as the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), responsible for multiple deadly attacks in Pakistan.

In response to these attacks, Pakistan has carried out several airstrikes within Afghan territory. The Taliban, however, have denied Pakistan’s allegations. Zabihullah Mujahid said, “We will not allow any country to use Afghan territory to conduct operations against another nation, nor will we allow any country to undermine Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, or security.”

He further stated that while the people of Pakistan are friends and brothers, “Afghanistan will firmly defend itself against any aggression.”

According to United Nations data, clashes that began in early October have resulted in the deaths of 50 civilians and injuries to 447 others along the Afghan border. In Kabul, explosions have claimed at least five lives.

On the other hand, the Pakistani military reported that 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 injured in Taliban attacks, though it provided no information regarding civilian casualties.