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PakistanAfghanistan Talks Collapse in Istanbul as Taliban Vows Ceasefire Will Hold

Islamabad says it ended the process after failing to secure enforceable guarantees that Afghan territory will not be used by militants targeting Pakistan.

Overview

  • Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif said negotiations are over with no plan for further meetings after the latest Istanbul round produced no written commitments.
  • Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the truce agreed on October 19 will continue and blamed what he called Pakistan’s irresponsible, uncooperative approach for the talks’ failure.
  • A brief exchange of fire on November 6 at Spin BoldakChaman occurred during the talks, with local hospital officials reporting at least five civilian deaths, including four women.
  • Turkey and Qatar mediated the meetings focused on a monitoring and verification mechanism; Pakistan pressed for guarantees against TTP use of Afghan soil, which Kabul denies enabling.
  • Delegations were led by ISI chief Lt. Gen. Asim Malik and Afghan intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq, as key border crossings stayed closed and both sides warned of responses if attacks resume.