Pakistan–Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul fail amid rising border tensions

[ad_1] ISLAMABAD (AP) — Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended with out settlement, with the edges buying and selling blame for the breakdown in negotiations aimed toward easing border tensions and upholding a fragile ceasefire, officers stated Saturday.

Tensions have escalated in current weeks following lethal border preventing that killed dozens of troopers and civilians. The violence erupted after explosions in Kabul on Oct. 9, which Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities stated had been drone strikes carried out by Pakistan and vowed to avenge. The clashes subsided after Qatar brokered a ceasefire on Oct. 19, which stays tenuously in place.

Afghanistan’s authorities spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, blamed Pakistan for the talks’ failure, saying that “Pakistan’s calls for within the negotiations had been unreasonable and the talks couldn't proceed, the assembly ended and the talks are at a standstill for now.”

Talking throughout a press convention from the southern Afghan metropolis of Kandahar Saturday, Mujahid stated Afghanistan “(does) not need insecurity within the area, and coming into into struggle just isn't our first selection,” however he famous that “if struggle breaks out, we've the precise to defend ourselves.”

Earlier, he had reiterated in a written assertion that Afghanistan “won't permit anybody to make use of its territory in opposition to one other nation, nor allow actions that undermine its sovereignty or safety.”

Talks come to an finish with out progress The 2-day talks in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, had been the third spherical of peace negotiations that had been seen as one of the crucial vital diplomatic efforts between the 2 neighbors for the reason that Taliban seized energy in Afghanistan 2021. Regardless of intense back-channel diplomacy, officers stated discussions stalled late Friday with out tangible progress.

Pakistani Protection Minister Khawaja Asif informed the personal Geo Information channel late Friday that the “talks are over” and that the Pakistani delegation was returning house with “no plan for any future conferences.” He added that the ceasefire would stay in place so long as “it's not violated from the Afghan facet.”

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group answerable for a surge in assaults inside Pakistan since 2021. Kabul denies the cost, saying it doesn't permit its territory for use in opposition to different nations.

Though separate from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, the TTP is intently allied with it and has been emboldened for the reason that Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul.

Throughout his information convention, Mujahid rejected accusations that Afghanistan was answerable for the actions of the TTP, saying the creation of the group had lengthy predated the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan.

Clashes proceed The collapse of talks got here the night time after Afghan officers reported that 4 civilians had been killed and 5 others wounded in cross-border clashes regardless of the continuing negotiations.

Asif stated the Afghan delegation got here “with none program” and refused to signal a written settlement, insisting solely on verbal assurances. “They stated they'd respect a verbal settlement, however there isn't any room for that,” he stated. “There isn't any plan or hope for any fourth spherical of talks. Talks have entered an indefinite pause.”

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s navy stated it carried out airstrikes on the hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside Afghanistan, killing dozens of individuals it described as insurgents. Afghan officers denied the declare, saying civilians had been among the many lifeless, and stated Afghan forces had struck Pakistani navy posts in retaliation, killing 58 troopers. Pakistan’s navy acknowledged shedding 23 troops within the preventing.

The violence prompted Qatar to ask delegations from each side to Doha, the place they agreed to a ceasefire on Oct. 19. It was adopted by six days of talks in Istanbul, which resulted in an settlement to increase the truce and maintain a 3rd spherical on Nov. 6 and seven — talks that finally failed to supply any breakthrough.

Border closure Since then, Pakistan has stored all of its border crossings with Afghanistan closed, although it partially reopened the primary Torkham crossing final week to permit stranded Afghan refugees to return house.

The closure, imposed on Oct. 12, has disrupted very important commerce and transit routes and stranded 1000's of individuals. A whole lot of vans loaded with items stay backed up on each side of the frontier, slicing off one of many busiest financial arteries linking South and Central Asia.

Alongside the border restrictions, Pakistan is pursuing a nationwide marketing campaign to deport undocumented foreigners, the vast majority of them Afghans. Since 2023, authorities say greater than 1,000,000 Afghan nationals have been despatched again as a part of the repatriation drive.

Pakistan has additionally witnessed a surge in militant assaults, many claimed by the TTP, which is designated as a terrorist group by the US and the United Nations.

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Abdul Qahar Afghan contributed to this report from Kabul, Afghanistan

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