Taliban–Pakistan talks collapse in Istanbul as both sides trade blame over border violence
High-level negotiations between Pakistan and the Taliban in Istanbul have ended in failure, with both sides accusing each other of sabotaging efforts to reduce cross-border attacks and improve security cooperation.
The four-day dialogue, hosted by Turkey and Qatar, was aimed at easing months of escalating tension marked by deadly clashes, border closures, and Pakistan’s mass deportation of undocumented Afghans. Instead, the talks concluded with mutual recriminations and no joint statement.
Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, said in a statement that the meeting «failed to produce any workable solution,» blaming the Taliban for refusing to offer credible assurances on curbing the activities of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups operating from Afghan soil.
«Pakistan has repeatedly engaged with the Afghan Taliban regime… but unfortunately, they have always remained indifferent to Pakistan’s losses,» Tarar said.
«The Taliban bear no responsibility towards the people of Afghanistan and thrive on a war economy,» he added, accusing Kabul of using militant proxies as political leverage.
According to Pakistani officials, the Istanbul talks centered on Islamabad’s demand that the Taliban prevent Afghan territory from being used as a base for attacks against Pakistan. Tarar said Pakistan presented «sufficient and irrefutable evidence» of the presence of TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants in Afghanistan — evidence that he claimed was acknowledged by the mediators but dismissed by the Taliban delegation.
The Taliban, however, countered that the negotiations failed because of what they called «unreasonable demands» from Islamabad. In a statement broadcast by the Taliban-run channel RTA, officials said Pakistan’s insistence on written guarantees went beyond what Kabul could offer.
«We remain committed to ensuring that Afghan soil is not used against any country,» the Taliban statement read.
«But the activities of the TTP are an internal issue of Pakistan that predates the Islamic Emirate and has nothing to do with Afghanistan.»
The Taliban delegation also raised its own grievances, urging Pakistan to stop airspace violations, prevent ISIS-linked cells from operating along the border, and resume stalled trade and border demarcation projects.
The stalemate comes amid one of the most serious downturns in Afghanistan–Pakistan relations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Key border crossings at Torkham and Spin Boldak have been closed for weeks, disrupting trade and humanitarian aid deliveries. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ongoing campaign to deport undocumented Afghans, which has already seen tens of thousands expelled, has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and the United Nations.
Islamabad maintains that the deportations are driven by national security concerns, pointing to a surge in militant attacks targeting Pakistani soldiers and police. Officials say most attacks are planned and executed from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Despite expressing appreciation for the mediation efforts of Turkey and Qatar, Tarar warned that Pakistan’s «patience is wearing thin.»
«We will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our people,» he said, hinting that military options remain under consideration if diplomatic channels fail.
Analysts say the breakdown of the Istanbul talks further dims prospects for regional stability and underscores the deep mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul — two governments bound by geography but divided by growing hostility and blame.
