Pakistan says peace talks with Afghanistan 'failed'

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, October 30 ------ Pakistan said that negotiations for a lasting truce with Afghanistan had "failed to bring about a workable solution", warning it would take steps to protect its people. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been holding negotiations in Istanbul aimed at securing peace after the South Asian neighbors' deadliest border clashes in years.

The violence, which killed more than 70 people and wounded hundreds, erupted following explosions in Kabul on October 9 that the Taliban authorities blamed on Pakistan. "Regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances, kept deviating from the core issue and resorted to a blame game, deflection and ruses," Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X after four days of negotiations brokered by Qatar and Turkey. "The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution."

Tarar said Pakistan engaged with Afghanistan in the spirit of peace but accused Kabul of "unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists". "We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism," he added, vowing to "decimate the terrorists, their sanctuaries, their abettors and supporters".

Relations between the one-time allies, who share a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) frontier, have soured in recent years over accusations from Islamabad that Afghanistan harbors militant groups which stage attacks in Pakistan. Of particular concern to Islamabad is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, which Islamabad has been demanding action against.

Pakistan accuses the Taliban authorities of allowing the TTP to use Afghan territory as a "training-cum-logistic base and jump off point for terrorist activities", according to Tarar's statement. The Taliban government has consistently denied the allegations. After the October 9 explosions in Kabul, which coincided with a visit to New Delhi by Afghan foreign minister Amir Muttaqi, the Taliban launched a retaliatory border offensive, prompting a response from Pakistan. An initial 48-hour ceasefire lapsed before a second truce emerged on October 19 following talks in Doha, also brokered by Qatar and Turkey.

Source: manilatimes.net