UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations expressed concern on Wednesday over the collapse of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Istanbul, stressing hope that hostilities along the border will not resume.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed during a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York that the deadlock after four days of negotiations is worrying. “We very much hope that even if the talks are on pause, the fighting will not renew,” he said.
The Istanbul talks followed a previous round in Doha that led to a ceasefire on October 19, after deadly border clashes between the two neighbors. The ceasefire reportedly remained in effect immediately after the Istanbul talks collapsed.
The key point of disagreement centered on Pakistan’s demand that the Afghan Taliban take decisive action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been using Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X that the dialogue “failed to bring about any workable solution,” despite mediation by Qatar and Turkey. He accused the Taliban regime of ignoring written commitments under the Doha Agreement and of supporting anti-Pakistan terrorists.
Tarar also criticized the Taliban for benefiting from a “war economy” and showing indifference to the Afghan people, warning that the regime appeared willing to draw Afghanistan into further conflict. He added that Pakistan has repeatedly sought peace and prosperity for Afghans but that “their indifference to Pakistan’s losses” has exhausted Islamabad’s patience after four years of border clashes.
The UN called for restraint on both sides and urged renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent a resurgence of violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
