Taliban Minister Threatens Pakistan Following Istanbul Negotiation Breakdown
Following the inconclusive end of negotiations between the Taliban delegation and Pakistani officials in Istanbul, Turkey, Noorullah Nuri, the Taliban Minister for Borders, Tribes, and Passports, reacted to comments made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, in a threatening tone.
In his recent speech addressing the Pakistani government, Nuri warned against testing the Taliban’s patience, stating, ‘Do not test our patience.’ He cautioned that the two countries are interconnected along their borders and that the Taliban have the capability to reach ‘their hands into Punjab and Sindh.’ These remarks come amid increasing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad over border security issues and the presence of extremist groups.
Asif’s comments in recent days sparked a strong response from the Taliban. He had warned on the eve of the third round of talks in Istanbul that if negotiations with the Taliban did not yield results, the situation would become ‘dire.’ This warning followed the suspension of talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar without achieving a specific agreement.
The third round of negotiations, which had begun with hopes of reducing tensions and reaching a mutual understanding between the Taliban and Pakistan in Istanbul, has once again hit a deadlock. On one hand, Pakistan accuses the Taliban of ignoring actions that threaten its security interests, while on the other hand, the Taliban respond with aggressive and warning rhetoric against diplomatic pressures.
The failure of these talks has raised concerns about increasing violence in the border regions of both countries and highlights the Taliban’s preference for using threats over peaceful resolutions to resolve disputes.
