Mistrust, diverging security priorities, conflicting domestic pressures behind repeated Af-Pak talks failures
New Delhi, Nov 8 – Regional negotiators in Istanbul reached a deadlock on a peace plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan amid fresh fighting across their disputed border. The third round of talks, which had been led by Qatar and Turkey, fell apart as each side clung to its own priorities and mutual distrust.
Pakistani officials, led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, accused the Taliban‑run Afghan government of lacking “independent authority” and blamed India for meddling in Kabul’s affairs. He called the talks “a complete deadlock” and warned that the Afghan delegation had entered without a clear timetable or written commitment.
Pakistan’s main demand is a decisive crackdown on Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating in Afghanistan, and a verifiable mechanism to stop cross‑border attacks. The country faces a security crisis at home, with rising unrest in Balochistan and the Kashmir region, and its leaders are under pressure to deliver tangible results.
The Taliban rejects Islamabad’s conditions. It says Kabul will not police Pakistani insurgents or sign broad, open‑ended agreements that could invite foreign intervention. The Afghan side insists that counter‑terrorism must be carried out under Afghan law and sovereignty. It also complains that Pakistani artillery fire and incursions undermine the talks.
Verification proved a key stumbling block. Islamabad wants a written, third‑party‑verified framework, while the Afghan delegation interprets that as an infringement on independence. Neither side could reconcile those concerns, keeping trust at a stalemate.
Another sticking point is the flood of Afghan refugees returning to Pakistan. Kabul has been overwhelmed by the surge, while international agencies want Islamabad to manage the flow, a request it has resisted.
Even though Pakistan has declared the talks over, Afghan state media highlight the fragile ceasefire that was initially agreed in Doha in October. The two sides had pledged to set up mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire, but the next two Istanbul rounds failed to bridge the deep mistrust and domestic pressures.
The situation intensified on the day the third round was set to resume. Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire at the Spin Boldak‑Chaman crossing in Kandahar province, each side accusing the other of starting the clash. Mediators from Qatar and Turkey voiced disappointment, noting that the stalemate heightened regional tensions.
Key themes: Afghanistan, Pakistan, peace talks, Taliban, Islamabad, TTP, border conflict, ceasefire, verification, refugees, mistrust.
Source: ianslive
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