Islamabad, November 9, 2025: Pakistan on Sunday strongly criticised the Afghan Taliban regime for using the Istanbul peace talks to “malign” Islamabad rather than addressing its key concern over cross-border terrorism.
“Instead of finding solutions to address Pakistan’s core concern, the Afghan regime used the opportunity to malign Pakistan through hypothetical accusations and jingoistic rhetoric,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi in a statement.
The remarks came after peace talks between Pakistan and the Taliban regime collapsed, with both sides failing to make progress despite a continuing ceasefire.
Talks deadlocked
Earlier, on November 7, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed to media that negotiations had been suspended with “no programme for the fourth round of talks.”
“There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase,” he said.
The Foreign Office said the Taliban delegation appeared “interested only in prolonging the temporary ceasefire” rather than taking “concrete and verifiable actions” against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
“It prolonged discussions and engaged in futile arguments to stonewall efforts at reaching any concrete understanding,” the FO statement noted.
Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan
Recalling the surge in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan since August 2021, the FO said Pakistan had exercised maximum restraint despite “significant military and civilian casualties.”
“Pakistan’s expectation was that the Taliban regime would control TTP/FaK and BLA/FaH elements and take concrete actions against them,” the spokesperson added.
The statement said Pakistan had extended trade concessions, humanitarian assistance, and visa facilitation to Afghanistan, urging the international community to engage Kabul for regional stability. However, it said the Taliban response remained limited to “hollow promises and inaction.”
Pakistan’s warning to terror abettors
Describing Pakistan’s October 2025 response to cross-border attacks as a demonstration of “national resolve,” the FO reaffirmed that TTP/FaK and BLA/FaH are declared enemies of Pakistan and its people.
It warned that anyone harbouring, abetting, or financing these groups would not be regarded as a friend of Pakistan.
Three rounds of talks
The FO outlined that Pakistan had joined the peace process in good faith under the mediation of Türkiye and Qatar.
At the first round in Doha, both sides reached an understanding on cooperation principles, leading to a temporary ceasefire.
The second round in Istanbul, however, failed to make progress as Taliban representatives “avoided taking measures on the ground” and “vitiated the environment with provocative media allegations.”
At the third round, Pakistan again pushed for an effective monitoring mechanism, but the Taliban delegation “tried to dilute the focus on terrorism” and expanded discussions through “unfounded claims and hypothetical issues.”
The spokesperson also rejected Taliban attempts to present Pakistani terrorists in Afghanistan as “refugees,” calling it a ploy to absolve militants of responsibility.
Taliban’s narrative ‘misleading’
The statement accused certain Taliban factions — “reportedly backed by foreign actors” — of using anti-Pakistan rhetoric to consolidate internal legitimacy.
“In search of legitimacy and to unite their fractious government, certain elements in the Taliban regime, anti-Pakistan terrorist elements and their abettors have found raising the bogey of Pakistan quite useful,” the spokesperson said.
He warned that such elements were “eroding whatever goodwill” the Taliban once had within Pakistan.
Rejecting the Taliban’s claims of divisions within Islamabad, the FO asserted there was “absolute clarity among the people of Pakistan” that they are the biggest victims of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Pashtoon narrative and inclusive governance
Addressing attempts to stir ethnic discord, the FO said, “Pashtoons are a vibrant and integral part of Pakistani society. The Taliban should focus on inclusive governance in Afghanistan instead of fomenting discord across the border.”
It added that while the Taliban describe terrorism as Pakistan’s internal issue, “they ignore the fact that individuals in Afghanistan have issued fatwas legitimising attacks against Pakistan.”
Dialogue, but with conditions
Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy, the FO said Islamabad was ready for continued dialogue with the Afghan government — but not with any terrorist group.
“Pakistan has never eschewed dialogue with any government in Kabul. However, Pakistan would not hold dialogue with any terrorist group, be it TTP/FaK or BLA/FaH,” the statement concluded.
