Despite the efforts of the mediators, such as Turkey and Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan, both the countries have been blaming each other for the inconclusive conclusion of the peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul, Turkey. Pakistan’s aggressive stance prompted a direct threat of war from the Taliban.
Following the threat by the Taliban, Pakistan’s stance appears to be softening. Pakistan stated on Sunday that it wants talks with Afghanistan, raising hopes of a de-escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Turkey to Mediate Peace Agreement
According to a Reuters report, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry has stated that it is committed to resolving the bilateral differences through dialogue. Following this, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, and intelligence chief are planning to visit Pakistan. Turkish officials will discuss a peace agreement with Afghanistan. The visit is said to aim to establish a permanent ceasefire and peace between the two countries as soon as possible.
Taliban threatens
Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, blamed Pakistan for the failure of the Istanbul talks on Saturday, saying Islamabad’s demands were unreasonable. This prevented the talks from moving forward. He further added that if, in case, a war breaks out, we have the right to defend ourselves. “We will fight vigorously for our land.” Following this statement by the Taliban, the Pakistani side has offered continued negotiations.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
The most significant source of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan has accused the Taliban government of harboring the TTP. The TTP has repeatedly attacked Pakistani security forces. Afghanistan has consistently denied harboring the TTP.
Since Pakistan does not accept Afghanistan’s clarification on the TTP, consequently the two sides are unable to reach a consensus on the TTP issue. This led to clashes along the border last month. Consequently, tensions remain high along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, causing significant hardship to the people living along the border.
