The federal government has officially confirmed a complete breakdown in recent discussions with Afghanistan, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar declaring the talks fruitless and reaffirming that Pakistan will continue all necessary operations to protect its citizens from terrorism.
In a statement on Wednesday, Tarar announced that the dialogue held in Istanbul between Islamabad and Kabul failed to produce any practical outcome. The minister detailed Pakistan’s persistent efforts to engage the Afghan Taliban on the critical issue of cross-border terrorism.
He revealed that terrorist groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, allegedly backed by India, have been carrying out attacks from Afghan soil. Tarar noted that Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Taliban to honor the written commitments made to the international community in the Doha Agreement, but these appeals proved futile.
The information minister criticized the Taliban’s governance model, suggesting it shows no responsibility towards its people and is sustained by a war economy that pushes Afghans into needless conflict. He emphasized that after four years of significant human and economic losses, “Pakistan’s patience has run out.”
Tarar explained that the recent negotiations were held as a final attempt to secure peace at the request of Qatar and Trkiye. The dialogue, which took place first in Doha and later in Istanbul, had a single-point agenda: to compel the Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory for training, logistics, and attacks against Pakistan.
During the four-day meeting, the Afghan delegation verbally agreed to Pakistan’s legitimate demands on several occasions. However, they consistently failed to provide any firm assurances and resorted to blame-shifting and denial, causing the negotiations to end without an actionable result.
‘Protecting our people is Pakistan’s top priority,’ Tarar affirmed. ‘We will continue all necessary actions to eliminate terrorists, their hideouts, facilitators, and supporters.’
He concluded by thanking Qatar, Trkiye, and other friendly nations for their efforts in seeking a peaceful resolution, stressing Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the security and stability of the region.