Afghan negotiators countered that Pakistan must first address its own internal divisions and review its decades-long policy of using militant groups for strategic depth.

The latest round of talks between Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government and Pakistan concluded in Istanbul over the weekend without a breakthrough, as Kabul pushed back against Islamabad’s insistence on tougher counterterrorism measures and border controls that Afghan officials described as infringements on their sovereignty.

The two-day dialogue, hosted by Turkey and facilitated by Qatar, followed a period of heightened tension along the Durand Line – the disputed border separating the two neighbours. The talks were intended to transform a fragile ceasefire into a broader security understanding after weeks of deadly skirmishes.

But according to officials familiar with the discussions, the meeting ended without agreement on the anti-terror action plan Pakistan brought to the table – a plan that the Afghan delegation viewed as one-sided and dismissive of Afghanistan’s security concerns.

Post the talks, on Monday, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed optimism about resolving disputes through dialogue but issued a stern warning on state-run television: “We will respond if any country attacks Afghanistan.”

His comments followed a report by Pakistan’s Geo News, which stated that talks between the Taliban and Islamabad had stalled. Sources told the outlet that on Sunday, Pakistan demanded the Taliban take “concrete and verifiable steps” to dismantle militant groups, particularly Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghanistan, as TTP has been linked to increasing attacks in Pakistan.

Afghanistan Pushes Back on Pakistan’s “Dictated Plan”

Afghan officials said Islamabad’s proposal, presented as a “comprehensive anti-terror roadmap,” effectively sought to shift blame for Pakistan’s domestic insurgency onto Kabul. “Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s internal instability,” a Taliban spokesperson was quoted as saying after the Istanbul talks. “We are committed to regional peace but will not accept dictates that undermine our sovereignty.”

Pakistan’s delegation, led by senior military and intelligence officials, urged Afghanistan to act decisively against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of using Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks. However, Afghan negotiators countered that Pakistan must first address its own internal divisions and review its decades-long policy of using militant groups for strategic depth.

“The Taliban leadership reminded Pakistan that the same groups now threatening it were once part of its own regional calculus,” said a Kabul-based analyst quoted in Afghan media. “Islamabad cannot expect cooperation without acknowledging that history.”

Border Tension and Mistrust Overshadow Dialogue

The Istanbul round took place against the backdrop of one of the bloodiest border flare-ups since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Exchanges of artillery fire and airstrikes along the Torkham and Chaman crossings left scores dead and disrupted trade routes vital to both economies.

While Pakistan insists the strikes were “defensive operations” targeting militant hideouts, Afghan authorities accused Islamabad of violating the ceasefire agreed in the earlier Doha talks. The Taliban’s Defence Ministry warned that “continued aggression will be met with proportionate force.”

Kabul’s representatives also pressed for reopening of border crossings and resumption of trade convoys stranded for days, which have severely impacted Afghan traders. “Pakistan uses border closures as a political weapon,” an Afghan commerce official said. “It punishes ordinary Afghans under the pretext of security.”

No Consensus on Verification or Monitoring

Despite mediation by Turkish and Qatari officials, the two sides failed to reach consensus on establishing a joint verification mechanism to monitor cross-border incidents and militant activity. Pakistan demanded a “verifiable monitoring system” with international observers, while Afghanistan insisted such oversight would amount to foreign interference.

Afghan delegates reportedly proposed instead a bilateral commission under Islamic principles of dispute resolution – a model Pakistan declined to endorse. “There was a fundamental difference in approach,” a diplomatic source in Ankara said. “Pakistan sought control; Afghanistan sought equality.”

Durand Line Dispute Resurfaces

The Durand Line, the 2,600-kilometre border drawn by the British in 1893, remains at the heart of the discord. Successive Afghan governments, including the Taliban, have refused to recognise it as an international boundary. Kabul argues that Pakistan’s recent border fencing and cross-border strikes are attempts to impose a political boundary by force.

“The talks in Istanbul once again showed that Pakistan views the Durand Line as a security line, not a people’s line,” said Kabul University political scientist Shafiullah Noori. “For Afghans, it remains a question of national dignity and historical injustice.”

The breakdown of talks could have far-reaching implications. A renewed spiral of violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan risks destabilising the entire Af-Pak belt, potentially enabling transnational militant networks to regroup.

Uncertain Road Ahead

With no joint statement issued, the Istanbul talks appear to have deepened rather than resolved the mistrust between the two neighbours. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s warning of “open war” if negotiations fail drew sharp criticism in Kabul, where officials called it “irresponsible and inflammatory.”

As both sides return home, border areas remain volatile, and trade remains disrupted. For ordinary Afghans, who continue to bear the brunt of economic hardship, the deadlock is another reminder that diplomacy, like the border, remains divided.