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Pakistan: Taliban Peace Talks Failed 10/29 06:14
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have
failed in Istanbul after four days of negotiations, Pakistan's information
minister said early Wednesday, accusing the Taliban government in Kabul of
refusing to act against militants blamed for deadly cross-border attacks.
The talks followed an earlier round in Doha that produced a ceasefire on
Oct. 19 after deadly border clashes between the two sides left dozens dead,
including soldiers, civilians and militants.
However, the ceasefire was still holding and no new clashes were reported
between Pakistan and Afghanistan hours after the talks collapsed.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militants linked to a surge in
attacks, while Kabul denies its territory is being used against Pakistan.
Before dawn Wednesday, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar took
to social media platform X, saying the dialogue "failed to bring about any
workable solution," despite mediation by Qatar and Turkey.
Kabul had no immediate comment.
The latest development came hours after state media in both countries said
there was an impasse in the talks, with the state media from the both sides
blaming each other for the failure to reach a deal.
Tarar said Pakistan at the request of brotherly countries Qatar and Turkey
gave peace a chance and engaged with the Afghan Taliban government first in
Doha and then in Istanbul.
He accused the Taliban of being "indifferent to Pakistan's losses" even
though "Pakistan has always desired, advocated and immensely sacrificed for
peace and prosperity for the people of Afghanistan."
Tarar said Pakistan was thankful to Qatar and Turkey for facilitating this
dialogue, which was part of a broader diplomatic push to ease months of
heightened tension between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border attacks and
militant safe havens -- issues that have strained relations since the Taliban's
return to power in Afghanistan four years ago.
He said that "since the Taliban regime bears no responsibility towards the
people of Afghanistan and thrives on war economy, it desires to drag and mire
the Afghan people into a needless war."
Tarar said "Pakistan's patience has run its course," and warned that
Islamabad would "continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect
our people from the menace of terrorism."
Earlier, on Tuesday, three Pakistani security officials who had direct
knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that there was a
deadlock in the talks in Istanbul over the reluctance of Kabul in accepting
demands about assurances that Afghan soil not be used against Pakistan.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to speak to the media. They said the host country was trying to end
the deadlock so that the final round of the talks could resume as soon as
possible.
According to the Pakistani officials, the Taliban delegation was "not fully
willing" to accept Pakistan's proposals and continued to seek guidance from
Kabul before making decisions.
Afghanistan-controlled media RTA made similar accusations against the
Pakistani side, saying Kabul "made every effort to hold constructive talks,"
but that the "Pakistani side does not seem to have this intention."
As the latest round of the talks was underway in Turkey, U.S. President
Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to help resolve the crisis between the two
neighbors very quickly.
The recent fighting prompted Qatar to host the initial round of talks, which
produced a ceasefire that both sides say is still holding despite the stalemate
in Istanbul.
Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali on Tuesday said
Afghanistan's strategy at the talks was to slow the diplomatic process and
shift focus to other bilateral issues. He noted Afghanistan's "reluctance to
give clear, unambiguous and internationally verifiable commitment to act
against Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban and other militants."
Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent years, mostly blamed
on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a group closely allied
to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Islamabad says the group is being sheltered in
Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
Authorities in Pakistan have said the country's military earlier this month
targeted hideouts of the TTP in Afghanistan. It triggered deadly clashes
between the two countries until Qatar brokered the ceasefire.
All border crossings between the two sides have remained shut for more than
two weeks, with trucks carrying goods stranded pending the reopening of key
trade routes.
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