No progress in Pak-Afghan Istanbul talks, says Khawaja Asif

ISTANBUL: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have concluded, with the Pakistani delegation returning home empty-handed.

Khawaja Asif said there is currently no schedule for the next round of talks. “Our empty-handed return indicates that even the mediators have lost hope in Afghanistan,” he added. He expressed gratitude to Turkey and Qatar for their sincere mediation and support for Pakistan’s position.

The Defence Minister explained that the Afghan delegation wanted their verbal assurances to be accepted, which Pakistan could not agree to. “In international negotiations, final agreements must be documented in writing. The Afghan side agreed with our stance verbally but refused to commit in writing,” he said.

Khawaja Asif emphasized that the ceasefire will remain in place as long as Afghan soil is not used for attacks on Pakistan. “If attacks originate from Afghan territory, we will respond effectively. Our single demand is that Afghan land not be used to target Pakistan,” he stated.

The third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban began yesterday in Istanbul but ended in a deadlock.