On Sunday, Pakistan affirmed its dedication to maintaining “dialogue” with Afghanistan, even after peace talks were disrupted by violence. Islamabad emphasized its ongoing security concerns.
The countries met in Istanbul to reinforce a truce established on October 19 in Qatar, following deadly cross-border clashes.
For the first time, Islamabad confirmed that the third round of negotiations had “concluded” on Friday.
Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“Pakistan is committed to resolving bilateral issues through dialogue. However, addressing terrorism from Afghanistan is a priority,” stated the foreign ministry.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militant groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which frequently claims attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban deny these allegations.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry criticized the Taliban government for failing to act on commitments made in earlier discussions.
This statement followed the Afghan government’s claim that its ceasefire with Pakistan remains despite failed talks, blaming Islamabad’s “irresponsible and uncooperative” conduct.
“In discussions, Pakistan attempted to shift all its security responsibilities to the Afghan government while showing reluctance to take responsibility for its own or Afghanistan’s security,” tweeted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Islamabad also alleges that Afghanistan acts with India’s backing, amid closer ties between Kabul and New Delhi.
Conversely, Afghanistan seeks respect for its sovereignty and accuses Pakistan of supporting insurgent groups.
Both sides have threatened to resume hostilities, which resulted in over 70 deaths and hundreds of injuries last month.
Tensions escalated on Friday with mutual accusations over border skirmishes in Spin Boldak, reportedly causing five deaths.
