Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that there has been no major breakthrough in the ongoing peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Speaking to Geo News, he made it clear that no significant progress has been achieved that could raise high expectations. According to the minister, discussions with the Afghan Taliban have not yet produced any concrete outcome. He mentioned that while both sides are still engaged in communication, the process has yet to show meaningful results. Khawaja Asif shared that Qatar’s Defence Minister and Turkey’s intelligence chief are making efforts to prevent the talks from collapsing. Pakistan’s delegation had even reached the airport to return home, but requests from Qatar and Turkey convinced them to stay in Istanbul for another attempt. The Defence Minister explained that Turkey and Qatar are trying to find a way forward by holding more talks with Afghan representatives. Pakistan’s delegation is still in Istanbul, waiting for further developments. If Afghanistan changes its approach and stops supporting terror groups, Asif said, “it will be a positive sign for peace. Khawaja Asif highlighted that peace and trust are the main conditions for progress. Without peace, he said, there can be no trade or positive cooperation between the two countries. He warned that if the Afghan side continues to act as a proxy for India or supports TTP militants, then progress will not be possible. The minister stressed that Pakistan is ready to move forward only if Afghanistan takes practical steps to stop terrorism and avoids interference influenced by other regional powers. “If peace is not achieved, then we have no choice but to respond strongly,” he said, emphasizing Pakistan’s firm stance on national security. Turkey’s Request Works: Pakistan Agrees to Restart Talks With Afghanistan

In a major diplomatic development, Pakistan has agreed to restart talks with Afghanistan after a special request from Turkey. The meetings are expected to take place in Istanbul, where both sides will once again try to find common ground for peace and regional security. According to sources, the earlier round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan had failed to produce positive results. The Pakistani delegation was scheduled to return home, but Turkish officials requested them to stay longer. Following this, Pakistan decided to continue its presence in Istanbul to give peace another chance. Turkey has played an important role as a mediator in this process. Officials in Ankara want these discussions to bring meaningful outcomes. Diplomatic sources revealed that Afghan authorities have also made new diplomatic contacts regarding the talks, which helped both sides agree to resume dialogue. Sources confirmed that Pakistan will continue to press its main demand — that Afghanistan must take clear, verifiable, and effective action against terrorist groups operating within its borders. Pakistan has also emphasized once again that Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan in any form. The Pakistani team participating in the talks will include the same officials who attended the earlier meetings. Their main goal is to reduce tensions and strengthen peace efforts between the two neighboring countries. The delegation will stay in Istanbul for the next phase of discussions. Earlier, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar had announced that the Istanbul talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan had failed. However, with Turkey’s diplomatic intervention, both nations have now decided to give the peace process another chance.

Tag: Pakistan Afghanistan talks

No Major Progress Yet: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif Shares Update on Pakistan–Afghanistan Talks

Turkey’s Request Works: Pakistan Agrees to Restart Talks With Afghanistan