Agreement eludes neighbours despite three days of talks

The third day of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul was marked by fluctuating optimism and frustration, as both sides attempted to develop a mechanism to curb cross-border terrorism.

Despite most points being mutually agreed upon, the core issue remaining unresolved was establishing a verifiable action plan against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory, especially addressing the Taliban’s support for the TTP.

Early in the negotiations, there was a hopeful tone with reports of constructive engagement, but as the day progressed, optimism diminished due to Afghan Taliban resistance, particularly their reluctance to formalize guarantees or commit in writing to end support for terrorist groups.

Pakistani officials expressed frustration over Kabul's reluctance, emphasizing the Taliban’s need to end patronage of the TTP and prevent terrorism from Afghan territory, despite external influences like India and Pakistan attempting to mediate sincerely.

The Afghan delegation remained optimistic, stating that remaining disagreements were few and resolvable, and stressed that tensions benefit no one, aiming for a positive outcome from the talks.

Mediation by Turkish and Qatari officials was seen as significant, as both sides continued engagement for a third day, indicating neither wanted to let the process collapse despite no formal agreement being reached.

The discussions highlighted the persistent stalemate, but the fact that both parties sustained engagement was viewed as a positive sign, with some considering an extension into a fourth day.

Overall, the negotiations underscored the complexity of reaching an agreement on terrorism and security cooperation, with close international monitoring and diplomatic efforts ongoing to prevent the talks from unraveling altogether.