Pak-Afghan talks end in failure over terror demand, FO confirms

Pakistan on Friday said talks with the Afghan Taliban mediated by Türkiye and Qatar concluded in Istanbul without a breakthrough, as the Taliban government failed to take concrete, verifiable action against anti-Pakistan militant groups based on Afghan soil.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andarabi said this in a statement responding to different media queries regarding the Pakistan talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul on November 6.

The third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, mediated by the brotherly states, concluded at Istanbul on November 7.

The FO spokesperson said Islamabad appreciated the mediation efforts of the two host countries but warned that repeated “hollow promises” from the Taliban regime had exhausted Pakistan’s patience.

The statement issued by the FO summarised Pakistan’s position after the third round of talks that followed an earlier understanding reached in Doha.

Andarabi said Pakistan had engaged the Taliban positively for years — offering trade concessions, humanitarian assistance and diplomatic outreach — in the hope that Kabul would prevent the use of its territory by groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan aka Fitnatul Khawarij and Balochistan Liberation Army aka Fintatul Hindustan.

Taliban govt says ceasefire to hold, despite talks failing

“Pakistan’s intention has always been to constructively engage with Afghanistan so as to enable it to become a stable, peaceful and prosperous country that is at peace within and with its neighbours.

“However, despite all these positive gestures by Pakistan in terms of trade, humanitarian assistance, educational and medical visas facilitation, and efforts at international forums to encourage the international community to engage with Taliban regime in the interest of regional peace and stability, and for the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and its people, the response from the Taliban regime has only been hollow promises and inaction,” the FO spox said.

He said despite Pakistan’s restraint and repeated efforts, a sharp surge in attacks emanating from Afghan soil was seen since August 2021.

The spokesperson said the Doha talks produced an understanding and led to a temporary ceasefire, but subsequent Istanbul sessions were meant to establish an implementation and monitoring mechanism.

Pakistan, he said, stayed focused on a single, core demand: verifiable action against militants who plan and mount attacks on Pakistan. “Instead of addressing that core issue, the Afghan side attempted to dilute and deflect, raising hypothetical and irrelevant allegations,” Andarabi said.

The Foreign Office noted that Pakistan’s October response to cross-border attacks demonstrated its resolve to defend its territory. It reaffirmed that TTP/FaK and BLA/FaH are enemies of the state, and anyone harbouring, abetting or financing them would not be treated as friend. At the same time, Andarabi reiterated Islamabad’s preference for diplomacy, describing the talks as an attempt — at the advice of Türkiye and Qatar — to give peace another chance.

Pakistan, Afghanistan peace talks collapse, ceasefire continues, Taliban says

Islamabad has demanded the Taliban regime to hand over terrorists to Pakistan, said the spokesperson, adding the Taliban regime has repeatedly refused to do so, citing lack of control.

“More than being a matter of capability, it has become a matter of intent of Taliban regime. Empty hopes and hollow promises rendered by Taliban regime so far have already outlived their efficacy. Definite and concrete actions have to be taken to safeguard the interests and lives of the people of Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan insisted the issue is not one of humanitarian protection for refugees but of terrorism: the Afghan Taliban, he said, are sheltering militants and allowing training camps that plot attacks on Pakistan. The FO demanded the handover of militants to Pakistan, adding that Kabul’s repeated claims of lack of control appeared to be a question of intent rather than capability.

Andarabi also rejected Taliban attempts to recast the problem as a domestic Pakistani issue or to stoke narratives of ethnic discord. He said Pakistan remains united in backing its armed forces, which continue operations against militants, and that the country will pursue all lawful measures to protect its citizens.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan remains open to dialogue but makes clear that concrete, verifiable measures to stop cross-border terrorism must come first. “There will be no compromise on national security — whether at the negotiating table or on the ground,” it said.