Talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have yet to achieve any breakthrough despite Islamabad providing “clear, evidence-based and solution-oriented” demands aimed at ending cross-border militancy.
Citing security sources, local media has reported that the Taliban regime has yet to show the required flexibility for the ground realities of terrorism inflicted by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. There is also confusion over the authority of the negotiators participating in talks, as they are often taking breaks to consult with the leadership in Afghanistan, hampering progress in the talks.
The second round of talks is underway in Turkiye, which is attempting to help resolve contentious issues. However, Pakistan’s officials remain cautious, noting there is little chance of any substantive progress unless the Taliban engage with sincerity and recognition of the seriousness of the issue.
According to security sources, Pakistan has made clear it will not tolerate any further terrorism from across the shared border with Afghanistan. It has emphasized the need for the Taliban regime to take concrete and definitive steps to dismantle such terrorist networks. In turn, the Taliban have offered “illogical” responses—at one point even attempting to bring in TTP militants to directly engage with Islamabad. This attempt was rejected outright, with Pakistan making clear it would not negotiate with terrorists.
During the talks, Pakistan has presented photographic and documentary evidence of TTP, BLA, and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. Islamabad also shared photographs and Afghan identity documents of infiltrators captured during recent border incidents.
The crux of the negotiations remains a demand from Pakistan for the Taliban regime to give up support for terrorist groups sheltering on its soil. Last week, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned of an “all-out” war between Pakistan and Afghanistan if these talks fail. He also indicated that the Taliban regime was acting at the behest of India and fighting a “proxy war” using the TTP.
Further straining the potential for lasting peace, however, is the Taliban’s inability to curb terrorists on Afghan soil—even amidst talks. Over the weekend, the Army reported two major infiltration attempts across the Pak-Afghan border in Kurram and North Waziristan. “This casts doubts on the intentions of the Interim Afghan government regarding its commitment to addressing terrorism emanating from its soil,” read a military statement.
The tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan erupted in open conflict earlier this month after Islamabad launched a retaliatory campaign to unprovoked firing along the border by Taliban forces. The clash saw the armed forces kill over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom. During the conflict, Pakistan also conducted “precision strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul, destroying multiple terrorist strongholds.
In the aftermath of the clashes, Pakistan has closed all border crossings with the neighboring country, cutting off trade.