A day after the final round of peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapsed, Taliban officials issued a stern warning to Islamabad on Monday, saying the group reserves the right to defend itself if hostilities erupt.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid blamed what he called the “irresponsible and non-cooperative attitude” of the Pakistani delegation and accused certain elements within Pakistan’s military and intelligence apparatus of deliberately sabotaging the dialogue. “If war breaks out, we have the right to defend ourselves,” Mujahid said, adding that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used to undermine another country’s sovereignty or security.
Mujahid said the Taliban entered the talks in good faith and praised mediators’ efforts but accused unnamed Pakistani actors of trying to pin Islamabad’s internal problems on the Taliban. He also asserted that, despite the diplomatic failure, the ceasefire along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border would continue for now.
The collapse of talks follows violent clashes last month when Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire after Islamabad carried out airstrikes in Kabul targeting the head of the Pakistani Taliban. Those exchanges — the worst since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 — left dozens dead and pushed both sides into a fragile ceasefire agreement reached after talks in Doha on October 19.
With the Istanbul talks ending without agreement, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the dialogue process is over and there are no immediate plans for a fourth round. “There is no plan or hope for any fourth round of talks. Talks have entered an indefinite pause,” he said.
Responding to Asif’s remarks, Afghanistan’s Minister for Tribes, Borders and Tribal Affairs Noorullah Noori warned Islamabad not to be “overly confident in its technology,” and said both tribal elders and youth in Afghanistan would rise in defense if war breaks out.(AGENCIES)
