The ongoing peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul appear to have failed, as discussions hit a deadlock over written guarantees, refugee repatriation and broader security concerns, top Taliban sources told CNN-News18.
The breakdown in talks between the former allies is believed to be primarily because of Pakistan’s high-handedness and its mistrust of the Taliban leadership. Islamabad has demanded written assurances that Afghan soil will not be used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is responsible for a fresh wave of violence in Pakistan’s border districts, but the Taliban refused.
Taliban sources said Afghanistan asserted its sovereignty and emphasised the importance of the Pashtun tribal brotherhood. It also argued
that Pakistan’s insistence on mass deportation of over 1.5 million undocumented Afghans has created a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis.
Afghanistan also accused Pakistan of using the issue of refugees as a tool for political blackmail to extract counter-terror guarantees. This came after fresh clashes were reported on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, killing at least five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants.
TTP Expected To Regain Operational Influence
With peace talks hitting a roadblock, the TTP is expected to regain operational confidence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas along the Balochistan border, which they have turned into a no-go zone for the Pakistan Army, according to top Indian intelligence sources.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government of not doing enough to control militants, particularly the TTP, as it has faced a renewed violence in border districts since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. In response, Kabul has rejected the accusations, stating that Pakistan is responsible for its own security.
Intelligence intercepts indicate TTP factions have resumed cross-border movement since mid-October, and are moving through the Khost and Paktika routes. Furthermore, the failure to secure even a minimal joint statement has weakened Turkey’s position as a neutral peace broker.
Turkish diplomats are now saying that both sides used Istanbul only as a symbolic venue to display diplomatic engagement as a Muslim brotherhood. This is also a blow for China, as Beijing sees the breakdown as a setback to its security corridor vision under the CPEC-Afghanistan extension.
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