Istanbul Peace Talks Between Pakistan & Taliban Break Down

In a statement shared on X by his son, Habibur Rahman Hekmatyar, the former Afghan prime minister criticised Pakistan’s recent threats of military action, calling on the country’s parliament and people to prevent “irresponsible statements” that could have “serious consequences.”

Hekmatyar condemned what he described as the “silence” of Pakistani lawmakers in the face of escalating rhetoric and said the current tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan were “exactly what India wants to happen.”

He said that attacks by insurgent groups in Pakistan began when NATO forces were still in Afghanistan. He alleged that the United States had allowed India to “train and support Pakistan’s armed opponents” in Afghanistan.

He said that “two Muslim neighbours are on the brink of a dangerous war,” while “millions of refugees are being expelled with humiliation and their homes bulldozed.” Hekmatyar called such actions “contrary to compassion, decency, and human ethics.”

He questioned why Pakistan’s parliament has “failed to take a clear and firm stance on this sensitive situation” and prevent further escalation.

Hekmatyar expressed hope that Islamabad would adopt a policy based on “mutual respect and non-interference” and that both countries could resolve disputes “fairly, rationally, and with patience and wisdom.”

His remarks came after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that if the ongoing talks between Islamabad and the Taliban failed, Pakistan could enter an “open war” with Afghanistan.

Taliban-affiliated media and Reuters, citing Pakistani security sources, reported on Tuesday that the Istanbul talks between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan ended without an agreement. Neither side has issued an official statement on the outcome.

Abdul Matin Qane, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, told Afghanistan’s Ariana News that “the Taliban have never bowed to any force.”

His comments followed a warning from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who said an “open war” could erupt if the ongoing peace talks between Islamabad and the Taliban failed to produce an agreement.

Negotiations between the two sides in Istanbul ended Monday after three days without any breakthrough. Pakistan has demanded that the Taliban take “specific and verifiable” action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said it had formally presented its position during the discussions.

The Taliban have repeatedly asserted their right to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, while Islamabad insists that halting cross-border attacks and creating a monitoring mechanism to prevent Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan are key to any lasting settlement.

Taliban-run national television reported on Tuesday that “certain circles within the Pakistani army” were obstructing the negotiations. The broadcaster, quoting Taliban officials, said the administration “cannot prevent attacks inside Pakistan.”

The Taliban-controlled outlet also accused the Pakistani delegation of “incompetence,” alleging that its representatives “retreat from the negotiating table instead of presenting arguments.”

Media outlets close to the Taliban earlier reported that the Istanbul talks ended “without result.” A Pakistani security source confirmed to Reuters that the discussions had concluded without an agreement.

Neither Islamabad nor the Taliban administration has issued an official statement on the outcome.

Since the start of the Istanbul talks, both sides have repeatedly traded blame for the breakdown of the process. The Pakistani delegation reiterated its demand that the Afghan Taliban act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, whom Islamabad accuses of launching attacks from Afghan territory.

Taliban-run national television, in its latest report, restated the group’s position that Afghanistan “cannot prevent attacks in Pakistan or represent the TTP.”

The broadcaster echoed the Taliban administration’s long-held stance that the Pakistani Taliban issue is Pakistan’s internal matter and that Kabul “will not allow Afghan soil to be used against any other country.”

The three-day negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, concluded on Monday after hours of intensive discussions, but both sides reportedly failed to resolve key disputes.

A Pakistani security official told Reuters that the Taliban refused to commit to restraining the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). An Afghan source familiar with the talks confirmed the breakdown, saying the discussions stopped after “heated exchanges” over the issue. The Taliban delegation, the source added, insisted it had no control over the Pakistani Taliban.

Neither Islamabad nor the Taliban has issued an official statement on the outcome.

According to Afghanistan International’s Istanbul correspondent, Nargis Horakhsh, the Taliban delegation denied the presence of TTP and other militant groups in Afghanistan. In response, the Pakistani side reportedly presented photographs of slain militants carrying Afghan identity cards, along with documents showing that some bodies were repatriated to Afghanistan.

Horakhsh reported that the Taliban delegation “had no response” to the evidence presented. Mediators and host nations are also said to have urged the Taliban to address the presence of armed groups on Afghan soil to promote regional stability and good neighbourly relations.

Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of sheltering TTP militants and allowing them to operate from Afghanistan, claims supported by UN Security Council reports, which confirm the presence of TTP commanders inside the country. The Taliban have repeatedly denied these allegations.

The Taliban’s six-member delegation in Istanbul included Rahmatullah Najib, Deputy Interior Minister; Suhail Shaheen, the group’s representative in Qatar; Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban figure; Noor Ahmad Noor, First Political Director at the Foreign Ministry; Noor Rahman Nusrat, Director of Operations at the Defence Ministry; and Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The Pakistani delegation comprised seven members, including diplomats and senior intelligence officials.

The first round of talks, held earlier in Doha, was attended by the defence ministers and intelligence chiefs of both sides and resulted in a temporary ceasefire. However, Pakistan has kept the details of that accord classified, while the Taliban said it would release them once the Istanbul round concluded.

The Istanbul negotiations followed deadly border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes targeting what Islamabad claimed were TTP strongholds in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika.

A Taliban Foreign Ministry source told Afghanistan International that Pakistan had demanded the Taliban launch operations against the TTP and officially designate it a terrorist organisation.

The source said Pakistan threatened further airstrikes inside Afghanistan if the Taliban failed to act, warning it would target any “suspicious activity” linked to the TTP.

The Taliban, however, maintained that it does not recognise the Pakistani Taliban as an organised group and considers the issue an internal matter for Pakistan. The group reiterated its pledge not to allow Afghan territory to be used against any neighbouring country.

The source added that the Taliban leadership had instructed its negotiators not to compromise on their stance, accusing Pakistan of attempting to undermine the talks.

According to the sources, the fighting erupted between Abdul Rahman Ammar, the former head of Badakhshan’s mining department, and Shafiqullah Hafizi, the current head of mines. Both men are influential Taliban figures in the province.

Reports indicate that Taliban border battalion forces sided with Hafizi and engaged in fighting against Ammar’s men. At least one member of the border battalion was reportedly killed during the clashes.

Sources said Abdul Rahman Ammar, though no longer holding an official position, remains a powerful local commander with his own loyal fighters and stockpile of weapons.

The Taliban’s internal fighting in Shahr-e-Buzurg district comes just three days after another armed confrontation between Taliban factions in the same area.

Local officials said the Taliban deployed reinforcements from the provincial capital to Shahr-e-Buzurg on Monday to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

The Taliban has not yet commented on the incident.

Over the past four years, the Taliban have placed increased emphasis on mining operations across Afghanistan, seeking to boost revenue from natural resources. However, critics and local residents have repeatedly questioned the group’s lack of transparency regarding mineral extraction and how the resulting income is used.