Overview
- Pakistan’s defence minister said the talks are over with no plan for a fourth round, adding the ceasefire continues only if there are no violations from the Afghan side.
- The Taliban say the truce will hold, blame Islamabad for the breakdown, and warn they will defend Afghanistan if fighting resumes.
- Kabul alleges elements within Pakistan’s military and intelligence sabotaged the negotiations, a claim Pakistan counters as baseless rhetoric in a new Foreign Office statement.
- Islamabad insists on written, verifiable assurances and a joint monitoring mechanism on TTP sanctuaries, and says any Pakistani militants in Afghanistan should be handed over at Torkham or Chaman.
- Turkey and Qatar mediated the talks, the Oct 19 ceasefire remains fragile after recent clashes and airstrikes, and Iran has offered to help mediate following the Istanbul impasse.