The Istanbul Talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime have reached an impasse, primarily due to the obstinate attitude of the Taliban delegation, which appeared more focused on blame-shifting than on addressing core security concerns. Despite Pakistan’s consistent and constructive engagement, the Taliban regime’s refusal to act against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has stalled progress toward regional stability.
In an apparent bid to divert attention from its failure to curb cross-border terrorism, the Taliban regime has reportedly instructed its social media-linked accounts to propagate a misleading narrative, alleging that the TTP issue is Pakistan’s internal matter, that Afghanistan faces terrorism from Pakistan through ISIS, and that Islamabad does not respect Afghan independence.
Pakistani officials have dismissed these claims as part of a deliberate disinformation campaign, calling them “a reflection of the regime’s devious attitude and lack of sincerity toward peace.” They noted that the Taliban delegation’s conduct during the talks indicated that they were acting under external influence and were never serious about achieving tangible outcomes.
“The Taliban have adopted the same strategy as their Indian patrons blaming others for terrorism while themselves providing sanctuary to militant groups,” a source said. “Their attempts to invoke a fictitious ISIS threat from Pakistan are designed to deflect attention from their well-documented support to TTP terrorists operating from Afghan soil.”
Officials further emphasized that Pakistan has always respected Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence, reminding that Islamabad has historically played a key role in defending Afghanistan’s territorial integrity against foreign occupation.
“With this kind of attitude from the Afghan regime, the talks were bound to falter,” the statement added. “Pakistan’s stance remains unchanged—it demands concrete action to dismantle TTP sanctuaries and prevent Afghan territory from being used against Pakistan.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, Pakistan reiterated that while it continues to prefer dialogue and cooperation for regional peace, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to secure its borders and protect its citizens—with or without Afghan cooperation.
