The talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have collapsed, with the Pakistani delegation returning home, confirmed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The third round of talks, hosted in Istanbul, ended in a deadlock after Afghan interlocutors refused to sign written guarantees sought by Pakistan. Speaking after the delegation's return, Khawaja Asif said the talks are over and there is no schedule for another round.

He described Pakistan's empty-handed return as evidence that even mediators have lost faith in the Afghan side's willingness to deliver. He thanked Turkey and Qatar for their sincere mediation and for supporting Pakistan’s position. Asif said Afghan representatives insisted their assurances be accepted verbally, which Pakistan could not accept. 

“Final agreements in international negotiations are recorded in writing,” he said, adding that while the Afghan delegation agreed with Pakistan’s stance during discussions, it refused to put commitments down on paper. The defence minister warned that Pakistan will respond if attacks originate from Afghan soil, but stressed that if no action emanates from Afghanistan, the ceasefire remains in place. “Our sole demand is that Afghan territory must not be used to launch attacks into Pakistan,” he said. 

Asif also urged the Afghan Taliban to become part of a written agreement instead of offering verbal guarantees, calling such formalisation beneficial for both countries and the wider region. He suggested that if the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not under Taliban control, Afghanistan should allow Pakistan to take necessary measures; conversely, Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan should be unopposed if conducted under this premise. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)