The peace process between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now mired in further uncertainty after talks in Istanbul to broker a sustainable truce failed to reach a resolution, according to Pakistan’s information minister.
The announcement early Wednesday came after state media in each country blamed the other on Tuesday for the lack of agreement in Turkiye on a long-term truce
The talks were spurred by tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government over armed groups operating in Afghanistan, which Pakistan claims were responsible for deadly cross-border hostilities earlier this month.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has repeatedly rejected accusations of harbouring armed fighters and instead accuses Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty with air strikes.
Dozens of people have been killed on both sides of the border in the deadliest fighting between the neighbours since the Taliban took power in 2021.
The negotiations followed a ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar and Turkiye. However, progress towards a long-term peace has now stalled.
Quoting unnamed Pakistani security officials, The Associated Press news agency reported that Turkish mediators were continuing efforts to break the deadlock and allow talks to resume.
Pakistan Television reported that a “last-ditch effort” was being made to resolve the issues.
However, the Reuters news agency reported that the talks had ended without a resolution, according to sources from both sides.
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