توقف گفت‌وگوهای کابل و اسلام‌آباد در استانبول

Despite rising hopes for a lasting agreement between Kabul and Islamabad, negotiations between the two sides in Istanbul have ended without results.

Sources familiar with the matter told TOLOnews that the Pakistani delegation walked away from the negotiating table after the Afghan delegation opposed certain demands from Islamabad, effectively halting the talks with no outcome.

According to these sources, the talks broke down due to disagreements over several final clauses and what was described as undiplomatic behavior by the Pakistani delegation. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reiterated its commitment to preventing the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, but in return asked Islamabad to stop violating Afghan airspace and prevent U.S. drone flights, a request the source said Pakistan refused to accept.

Omar Samad, former Afghan ambassador to France, commented: “It’s not entirely clear what each side’s intentions were. Was Pakistan genuinely seeking practical solutions, or was it trying to use the opportunity to appear as if it wanted to resolve the issues?”

On the other hand, the Pakistani delegation reportedly presented demands that were also unacceptable to both sides. According to sources, Islamabad asked the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to officially designate the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist group and take action against it.

In response to this demand, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghanistan’s Minister of Defense, said: “Pakistan and other countries use the label of terrorism for political purposes against their opponents.”

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had warned that if the Istanbul talks ended without result, Islamabad would go to war with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In contrast, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized resolving issues through dialogue.

Mohammad Nabi Omari, the First Deputy Minister of Interior for the Islamic Emirate, also stated: “From the highest level to the lowest, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has a policy of non-interference and does not meddle in the internal affairs of other countries.”

This comes after Pakistan violated Afghan airspace, prompting a retaliatory response from the Islamic Emirate. The two sides, with mediation from Qatar and Turkey, agreed to an immediate ceasefire in Doha. Follow-up talks were then held in Istanbul on October 17, which, after four days of negotiations, concluded without any agreement.