Pakistan has categorically rejected as “deliberately distorted” the Afghan Taliban regime’s version of the recent Istanbul peace talks, asserting that Kabul misrepresented Islamabad’s position. The Ministry of Information clarified on X that Pakistan had demanded the arrest or restraint of terrorists operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, not their deportation.
The statement further noted that when the Afghan side claimed those militants were Pakistani nationals, Islamabad proposed their formal handover via designated border crossings in line with its long-standing stance. The ministry termed any claim to the contrary “false and misleading,” emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to verifiable counterterrorism cooperation.
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This clarification followed remarks by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who alleged that Pakistan declined Kabul’s offer to deport individuals considered security threats, instead requesting Afghanistan to keep them under control. Mujahid further accused Pakistan of seeking to create conditions for a potential U.S. return to the Bagram airbase, a claim Islamabad called “baseless propaganda.”
Pakistan’s renewed response comes amid fragile peace efforts mediated by Turkey and Qatar. The Istanbul round resumed after earlier discussions collapsed when the Taliban refused to guarantee that groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would not use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks. Pakistan reiterated that stability in the region depends on Kabul’s firm action against such groups.
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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also condemned the Taliban’s “malicious and misleading” statements, asserting that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership are united in their Afghan policy. He said the entire nation, especially those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, understands the “barbaric patronisation” of terrorism by elements within the Afghan regime allegedly aligned with India’s interests.
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Asif accused the Taliban of internal divisions, authoritarianism, and repression of women, children, and minorities, saying the non-representative regime continues to deny fundamental rights such as education, political representation, and freedom of expression. He added that even after four years in power, the Taliban have failed to deliver on their governance promises and remain proxies for external actors.
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Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have sharply deteriorated since the Taliban takeover in 2021, as Pakistan faces an alarming rise in terror incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Islamabad maintains that the resurgence of the TTP and other groups is directly linked to Kabul’s unwillingness to act against militants sheltering in Afghanistan.
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Tensions escalated after unprovoked Afghan border firing on October 12, which prompted Pakistan’s military to retaliate, killing over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, though 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred. The ensuing air strikes targeted terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan, leading to a temporary ceasefire on October 17. Subsequent talks in Doha and Istanbul attempted to prevent further escalation, with a new round of negotiations scheduled for November 6.
