Islamabad – The latest round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul has once again ended without progress, undermining efforts to stabilise the regional security landscape. Mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, the discussions failed to move forward after Kabul declined to offer verifiable guarantees preventing the use of Afghan territory by militants targeting Pakistan.

Pakistan’s delegation reiterated that verbal assurances are no longer sufficient, particularly following the resurgence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from sanctuaries across the border. Officials said Pakistan’s position remains “lawful, measurable and based on enforceable cooperation,” insisting that counterterrorism commitments must be documented and jointly monitored.

Islamabad’s core demands focused on the dismantling of TTP networks operating inside Afghanistan, the transfer of senior militant commanders to Pakistan, and a written security mechanism to ensure Afghan territory is not used for cross-border attacks. Officials stressed that the request aligns with international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, and does not impinge on Afghan sovereignty.

However, Afghan representatives once again declined to agree to any binding monitoring framework. The impasse emerged at the stage where verification protocols and accountability structures were expected to be formalised.

The stalemate deepened after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid publicly portrayed Pakistan’s position as unreasonable. Pakistani officials and analysts rejected the remarks as misleading, arguing that the claim mirrors earlier propaganda deflecting responsibility for the TTP’s intensifying operations.

They point to the security trajectory since August 2021, when the Taliban seized Kabul. Pakistan recorded 207 terrorist attacks in 2021, a 42 percent increase from the previous year, with the TTP responsible for nearly half of them. This upward trend accelerated sharply in the following years. By 2023, Pakistan witnessed 306 attacks, with the TTP and its affiliates responsible for more than 80 percent of terrorism-related deaths. The frequency and lethality of suicide attacks also rose, with 23 such incidents recorded in 2023.

Security officials argue that these figures reflect operational freedom and logistical support available to the TTP inside Afghanistan. The United Nations Monitoring Team’s 35th and 36th reports similarly documented the reorganization of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and noted that the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) facilitated safe passage, accommodations and weapons for TTP operatives. The 66th SIGAR report (January 2025) identified between 6,000 and 6,500 TTP fighters operating openly from Afghan territory. The 68th SIGAR report (July 2025) further found Taliban elements providing safe havens to ISIS-Khorasan, TTP and Al-Qaeda.

Also see: Pakistan Presses Taliban Over TTP Safe Havens During Istanbul Talks; Sources

If Afghan authorities believe their claims of having no militant sanctuaries, analysts say, they could agree to neutral monitoring mechanisms involving Türkiye or Qatar. Pakistan has repeatedly signaled its willingness to allow such oversight.

Pakistan has long supported dialogue and hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades. Officials stress that Islamabad’s approach remains diplomatic but anchored in national security imperatives. With thousands of lives lost in the fight against terrorism, Pakistan maintains it cannot tolerate unchecked cross-border violence.

A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on background, said the talks can continue, but only if outcomes are tied to enforceable measures. “Peace cannot rest on words alone,” he said. “Commitments must be real, documented and implemented.