Govt says Istanbul talks with Afghan Taliban collapse

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Pakistan’s latest round of engagement with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul ended without progress. In a statement shared after the four-day dialogue wrapped up, he said Islamabad presented evidence-based counterterrorism demands but received no assurances from Kabul’s representatives. Tarar argued that Pakistan has repeatedly urged action against militants staging attacks from Afghan soil, citing prior written commitments under the Doha process. He accused the Taliban of resorting to blame shifting and evasion rather than addressing what Islamabad considers the core issues. Pakistan, he added, has exhausted patience after years of losses and will continue taking all necessary measures to protect its citizens. According to security sources, mediators from Qatar and Türkiye recognized Pakistan’s demands as reasonable, yet the Afghan side remained constrained by directions from Kabul. Officials said a ceasefire understanding brokered earlier in Doha had not translated into practical steps in Istanbul. The talks unfold amid heightened tensions and recent cross-border violence, with Pakistan’s military reporting casualties and retaliatory precision strikes against militant hideouts.