ISTANBUL: Pakistan’s high-level security delegation began departing for Istanbul Airport on Friday after discussions with the Afghan Taliban government remained deadlocked, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.
Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Lieutenant General Asim Malik, who led the delegation, has also left as the round concluded without agreement, the sources confirmed.
Earlier in the day in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had submitted “evidence-based, justified and logical” demands to the mediators “with the singular aim to put an end to cross-border terrorism.”
“The mediators fully endorse Pakistan’s stance on the basis of the evidence provided by our side as well as the tenets of international law and principles,” Andrabi said, adding that the mediators are presenting Pakistan’s demands to the Afghan Taliban delegation “point by point.”
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan appreciates the mediation efforts of Türkiye and Qatar, but responsibility lies with Kabul to fulfill its counterterrorism commitments.
“Onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfill its long standing international, regional and bilateral pledges regarding control of terrorism, in which so far they have failed,” Tarar said.
He stressed that Pakistan’s core concern is the presence of armed groups operating from Afghan territory and attacking Pakistani security forces and civilians.
“Pakistan does not harbor any ill-will against the Afghan people,” he added. “However, [Pakistan] shall never support the Afghan Taliban regime’s measures that are detrimental to the interest of the Afghan people as well as neighboring countries.”
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking in an interview with GEO News, confirmed the stalemate and said the negotiation process is now uncertain.
“There is complete deadlock and the agreement has entered an indefinite phase. There is no hope of a third or fourth round,” Asif said. He thanked Qatar and Türkiye “for sincerely making efforts.”
Asif cautioned that Pakistan would respond if attacks continue.
“If the situation flares up from the Afghanistan side, we will respond accordingly,” he said. “Until there is no ceasefire broken from their side, the ceasefire persists, but if they break it, we will respond.”
He said Pakistan’s principal demand is the prevention of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including on schools and civilian targets.
“They have indicated they know the terrorists come from their side but they say they cannot do anything. So they should not stand between us and the terrorists, let us handle it. We have all the resources and information to control them,” Asif said.
With negotiations stalled, Tarar reiterated that Pakistan will continue diplomatic engagement, but not at the expense of national security.
“Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,” he said.
