Pakistan announced that four days of intensive talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul ended without progress, as the Taliban delegation refused to commit to halting cross-border terrorism targeting Pakistan.Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that despite Pakistan’s constructive engagement and presentation of comprehensive and irrefutable evidence, the Afghan side failed to provide any assurance of action against terrorist elements operating from its territory. “Pakistan entered these talks with sincerity and a single objective the cessation of cross-border attacks from Afghan soil,” Minister Tarar stated. “The Afghan delegation repeatedly sidestepped the core issue. In the absence of credible commitments, Pakistan will continue decisive operations to eliminate terrorists and their facilitators wherever they exist.”
Diplomatic sources indicated that the Afghan Taliban delegation’s position shifted multiple times during the dialogue, reportedly under conflicting instructions from Kabul, which undermined the discussions. Pakistani officials described these changes as illogical and counterproductive, stressing that they rendered the talks inconclusive.“Negotiations cannot succeed when the other side refuses to remain consistent or acknowledge undeniable facts,” a senior Pakistani official said. “Pakistan’s patience should never be misread as weakness. Our restraint is guided by responsibility, not hesitation.”
Minister Tarar extended appreciation to Qatar and Türkiye for facilitating the Istanbul dialogue and acknowledged their efforts to persuade the Afghan Taliban regime to refrain from using terrorist proxies as leverage against Pakistan.“We are grateful to Qatar and Türkiye for their diplomatic support and for encouraging the Afghan side toward a responsible course,” he added. “However, peace cannot be achieved through evasion or denial it requires concrete action.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering stance that terrorism will not be tolerated under any circumstances.“Pakistan seeks peace, not conflict. But if our concerns cannot be addressed through dialogue, we will not hesitate to defend our borders and our people,” Minister Asif warned.
The Istanbul talks were part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure firm assurances that Afghan territory will not be used for planning or executing terrorist attacks against Pakistan. Despite international mediation, the Afghan delegation’s refusal to offer guarantees led to a breakdown in negotiations.
Pakistan reaffirmed that national security and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. The government underscored that while diplomatic engagement will continue, there will be no compromise in confronting terrorism and safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty.
