Pakistan, Afghanistan peace talks end after 'tense exchanges': report

Efforts to establish a lasting truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan have collapsed, as peace talks held in Istanbul concluded without a breakthrough, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the discussions.

The negotiations were meant to secure a long-term peace deal after the worst bout of cross-border violence since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 2021.

Although both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire brokered in Doha on October 19, they failed to reach further consensus during a second round of talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar.

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Citing a Pakistani security official, the report said that the Taliban government refused to take concrete steps against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that operates freely from Afghan territory.

An Afghan source described the discussions as ending after “tense exchanges” over the same issue. The Afghan delegation, the source said, maintained that Kabul has “no control over the Pakistani Taliban,” which has recently carried out attacks on Pakistani forces.

Both sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the talks.