Pakistan has presented “clear, evidence-based and solution-oriented” demands to the Afghan Taliban during talks on cross-border militancy, but security sources say the group’s continued defiance and reluctance to cooperate have cast serious doubt on its sincerity.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the Afghan Taliban have so far shown little flexibility or willingness to acknowledge ground realities — a position that mediating countries have also begun to notice.
Turkiye is reportedly playing a key role in trying to bridge differences, helping the Taliban delegation understand both the evidence presented by Islamabad and the seriousness of Pakistan’s concerns.
Officials, however, caution that the future of the talks depends entirely on whether the Taliban demonstrate genuine intent and abandon their current rigid stance.
The latest round of negotiations in Istanbul was held under the mediation of Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, shortly after the Taliban delegation submitted its response to Pakistan’s proposals.
Sources say Islamabad presented its final position during the session, making it clear that Pakistan will not tolerate any shelter or support for militants operating against it from Afghan soil.
During the exchanges, Pakistani officials urged the Taliban regime to take concrete and verifiable action to dismantle terrorist networks based in Afghanistan.
Security sources described the Taliban’s arguments as “illogical and disconnected from the ground situation,” further deepening skepticism about their willingness to contribute to lasting regional stability.
Officials added that progress in the Istanbul dialogue now hinges entirely on the Taliban’s approach and their readiness to engage in good faith.
In the first phase of the Istanbul talks on Saturday, Pakistan had submitted a detailed counterterrorism framework aimed at curbing cross-border attacks emanating from Afghanistan.
Kabul responded to the plan at 2am late Sunday night.
The negotiations in Istanbul, Turkiye, are the second round of the peace talks, which began between the two nations in Qatar’s Doha on October 19.
Mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, the first round of talks saw the two sides agree to a ceasefire, following intense border clashes, instigated by the Taliban regime.
Pakistan launched a retaliatory campaign after the Taliban, aided by their affiliated militants, resorted to unprovoked firing along the border.
Pakistan Armed Forces repelled multiple attacks on their border posts, killing over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants. However, 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom during the border clashes.
Pakistan also conducted “precision strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul, destroying terrorists’ multiple strongholds.
Following the clashes, Pakistan closed its border crossings with the neighbouring country, saying that the lives of Pakistanis were more important than the movement of goods or trade.
Meanwhile, Islamabad continues to raise its concerns over the Taliban regime acting as an Indian proxy against it.
Speaking to reporters in Sialkot on Saturday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that India was fighting a proxy war using the Afghan Taliban.
He warned of an “all-out war” with the Afghan Taliban regime in case the peace talks failed.
However, Asif — who led the Pakistani delegation in the Doha talks — said that he felt an urge for peace during those negotiations.
