Istanbul — Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Tuesday that a near-agreement with Afghanistan collapsed.
Ceasefire, Doha talks and renewed negotiations
Asif told Geo News that Afghan negotiators repeatedly backpedalled after consulting officials in Kabul. He said this happened “four or five times” during talks. The second round of talks began Saturday in Istanbul. These meetings followed a Doha agreement that extended a 48-hour truce. That Doha deal produced a temporary ceasefire and a commitment to reconvene in Istanbul. Islamabad launched strikes on Gul Bahadur group camps in Afghanistan before the Qatar talks. Consequently, both sides agreed to pursue mechanisms for lasting peace and stability.
Accusations and regional tensions
Asif praised the Afghan delegation’s negotiating skills but blamed Kabul for sabotaging progress. “Whenever we got close to an agreement, they reported to Kabul,” he said. “Then there was intervention and the agreement was withdrawn.” He accused Kabul of lacking authority and alleged Indian influence over Afghan decision-makers. Asif claimed India uses Afghanistan to pursue a low-intensity proxy war against Pakistan. He added that some Afghan officials had visited India and its temples, according to his remarks.
Warnings and security implications
When asked about Afghan threats to “attack Islamabad,” Asif issued a stark warning. “If Afghanistan even looks at Islamabad, we will gouge their eyes out,” he said. He accused Kabul of enabling terrorism inside Pakistan over the past four years. The defence minister vowed a “befitting response” if Islamabad faced attacks, saying the response would be far stronger.
Last-ditch diplomatic effort
Security sources said negotiators worked an 18-hour day to salvage the talks. They claimed the Afghan delegation repeatedly agreed to Pakistan’s demand for decisive action against the TTP. However, the sources said Kabul’s instructions reversed those concessions. They blamed “illogical and illegal advice” from Kabul for the talks’ failure. Meanwhile, Pakistan and the host countries insisted they wanted a thoughtful, serious resolution.
