Pakistan says peace talks with Afghanistan failed in Istanbul; Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warns of force if militants strike again. Ceasefire fragile after deadly October border clashes.
Pakistan–Afghanistan Peace Talks Collapse After Four Days in Istanbul
Pakistan announced on Oct. 28–29 that four days of peace talks with Taliban rulers in Istanbul ended without an agreement, raising the risk of renewed cross-border violence and straining a fragile ceasefire brokered earlier this month. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad found the Afghan side unwilling to address Pakistan’s central demand.
In a blunt response, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif issued a high-stakes warning on social media, saying Pakistan could “completely obliterate” the Afghan Taliban and drive fighters back to hideouts if future terror attacks originated from Afghan soil. His remarks reflect deep frustration after deadly October border clashes and Pakistani strikes on suspected militant hideouts in Afghanistan that triggered retaliatory attacks.
Mediation by Qatar and Turkey, and an earlier Doha ceasefire, failed to bridge the gap between Islamabad’s security demands and the Taliban administration’s stance that groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are Pakistan’s internal issue. Kabul has disputed Pakistan’s claims of sanctuary for militants; Afghan state media called Pakistan’s demands “irrational.”
