Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have resumed talks in Istanbul on Tuesday following an apparent breakdown a day earlier, as Turkish hosts and Qatari mediators push both sides to salvage the dialogue and reach a meaningful outcome in the fourth day's "final round".
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, diplomatic sources said that the fourth day of discussions marks what mediators are calling the final attempt to find common ground after marathon sessions lasting more than 18 hours failed to produce results on Monday.
The talks had seemingly hit an impasse when Taliban negotiators declined to provide a written assurance or commitment to act against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite verbally agreeing that Islamabad’s concerns were “logical and justified.”
Sources familiar with the negotiations said that while the Taliban delegation acknowledged the legitimacy of Pakistan’s demands, it continued to avoid committing to any concrete action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
The reluctance, sources say, stems from internal divisions within Kabul’s power structure and concerns over potential backlash from TTP elements.
Mediators from Turkey and Qatar reportedly urged both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise a diplomatic resolution.
Islamabad has maintained that its patience is wearing thin and reiterated its stance that any future terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory would draw a firm response.
Earlier, three days of intensive talks between Pakistani officials and an Afghan Taliban delegation concluded without a breakthrough after marathon negotiations on the third day that lasted some 18 hours on Tuesday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the principal stumbling block was the Taliban’s refusal to provide a written guarantee to take action against the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups.
Sources said that the Afghan delegation repeatedly agreed, on several occasions and in the presence of hosts and mediators, with Pakistan’s logical and legitimate demand for verified and effective action against militant outfits operating from Afghan territory.
Yet each time the Taliban representatives appeared to assent, new instructions arriving from Kabul altered their position, undermining the talks, sources said.
They said that during the negotiations, Kabul’s directives frequently changed the Taliban team’s stance, leaving Islamabad and the mediators frustrated.
Delegation members’ repeated reversals, driven by what negotiators described as “illogical and unjustified” counsel from Kabul, were cited as a primary reason the dialogue failed to yield results.
Still, Pakistani hosts and international mediators professed a desire to resolve the complex issues through measured, patient diplomacy.
Sources added that, despite the Taliban’s intransigence, a last-ditch effort is underway and the talks are moving toward one final round aimed at finding a negotiated, logical solution.
Facilitators and friendly states have indicated they will continue exerting pressure and making efforts to salvage the process and produce a meaningful outcome.
Pakistan had insisted on written, actionable guarantees from the Taliban delegation to demonstrate concrete measures against the TTP and other proscribed groups.
The Taliban, however, refrained from committing to such written assurances.
Islamabad made clear that it retains the right to respond decisively to any terrorist attack originating from Afghan soil, warning that any future incidents would be met with appropriate measures.
Reporters: Ahmad Mansoor and Anwar Abbas