Pakistani security sources have accused the Taliban delegation of being “obstructive” and “uncooperative” during the third day of peace talks in Istanbul, according to a Reuters report on Monday.
One Pakistani security official said: "The Pakistani delegation has made it clear that no compromise is possible on our core demands on cross border terrorism.”
Negotiating teams from the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan met for a third consecutive day as part of the second round of peace talks mediated by Türkiye. The discussions aim to establish a long-term ceasefire, but sources say the two sides hold sharply different interpretations of the talks’ purpose and outcome.
Earlier, Pakistani officials told local media that the Taliban delegation’s arguments were “illogical” and “detached from ground realities.” On Monday, security sources alleged that the Taliban were creating hurdles in the negotiation process.
However, a Taliban representative present at the talks rejected Pakistan’s claims, telling Reuters: “Overall, the meeting is going well, and we discussed multiple issues in a friendly environment.”
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, also reiterated on Monday that the Taliban supports dialogue and believes disputes “can and should be resolved through talks.”
Last week, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that if the Istanbul negotiations fail, the situation could escalate into an “open war.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, speaking on Sunday night at a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reiterated his willingness to mediate, saying: “I’ll get the Pakistan–Taliban war solved quickly.”
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have intensified in recent weeks after Islamabad launched airstrikes on Kabul and Paktia provinces, claiming to target the leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In response, Taliban forces reportedly attacked Pakistani military outposts along the border, sparking fierce clashes that ultimately led both sides to sign a ceasefire agreement on 19 October after several days of border fighting.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to TTP fighters, allowing them to launch attacks across the border, allegations that Kabul firmly denies.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s military said five of its soldiers and 25 TTP militants were killed during weekend clashes near the Afghan border.
