Diplomatic sources revealed that one last attempt is underway to salvage the faltering dialogue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, as both sides remain deadlocked over decisive action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
The third round of talks, held in Istanbul, stretched nearly 18 hours but concluded without tangible progress. According to insiders, the Afghan Taliban delegation initially agreed several times to Pakistan’s demand for credible and verifiable operations against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other cross-border militant networks. However, each time, their position shifted following directives from Kabul, derailing the possibility of consensus.
Officials involved in the negotiations described the guidance from Kabul as “non-cooperative” and “needlessly difficult,” though Pakistan and the Turkish hosts continue to pursue a diplomatic course to bring the process back on track.
Sources said the upcoming round of talks — described as decisive and potentially final — hinges on whether the Taliban leadership demonstrates genuine willingness to act against terrorist elements threatening regional peace.
During Sunday’s session, Pakistan reiterated its final position, warning that any Afghan tolerance or shelter for TTP elements would be unacceptable. Islamabad demanded verifiable action to dismantle militant infrastructure and described its proposals as “clear, evidence-based, and non-negotiable.”
Security officials said the Taliban’s responses remained “illogical and detached from ground realities,” raising doubts about their intent. They warned that continued intransigence from Kabul could erode diplomatic momentum and escalate regional instability.
The Istanbul talks, mediated by Turkey following earlier rounds in Doha, were aimed at defusing mounting tensions after Pakistan’s retaliatory actions against cross-border attacks. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that persistent failure of diplomacy could carry serious consequences for both bilateral relations and regional security.