Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan have collapsed, though a ceasefire between the two neighbours remains in place, the Taliban confirmed on Saturday.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said negotiations broke down because Islamabad demanded that Kabul take responsibility for Pakistan’s internal security, a condition he described as beyond Afghanistan’s “capacity.”
“The ceasefire that has been established has not been violated by us so far, and it will continue to be observed,” Mujahid added.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said that the peace talks, held in Istanbul to prevent renewed border clashes, had failed. He noted that the ceasefire would continue as long as no attacks originated from Afghan territory.
The collapse of talks came a day after Afghan and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along their shared border, coinciding with the resumption of negotiations in Istanbul.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku on Saturday and expressed hope that the discussions would “yield results toward lasting stability.” He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two sides, according to a statement from his office.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated in recent months. Their militaries clashed last month, resulting in dozens of deaths, the worst violence since the Taliban took power in 2021.
The two countries signed a ceasefire in Doha in October, but the second round of talks in Istanbul ended without a long-term agreement. The deadlock reportedly stemmed from differences over militant groups operating inside Afghanistan that are hostile to Pakistan.
Once close allies, Pakistan and the Taliban have seen their relations deteriorate sharply in recent years. The October clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes earlier that month on Kabul and other locations, targeting leaders of the Pakistani Taliban.
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With inputs from Reuters.
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