Turkey Withdraws from Mediating Taliban-Pakistan Talks Amid Deadlock
India’s CNN News18, citing senior security and diplomatic sources, has reported that Turkey has pulled back from its mediatory role after diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the Taliban administration and Pakistan failed to yield results.
According to the report, several rounds of talks facilitated by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia ended without significant progress. Officials based in Kabul described Pakistan’s proposed terms for a broader agreement as “illegitimate” and rejected them.
CNN News18 added that Turkish officials have formally informed Islamabad that the Taliban administration remains unwilling to accept Pakistan’s primary security demands; according to sources, this was the main reason behind Ankara’s withdrawal from further mediation.
The report states that the core of the current deadlock revolves around Pakistan’s demands, including the handover of members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the establishment of a five-kilometer buffer zone along the Durand Line, stricter controls on Afghanistan’s goods transit, and accelerating the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. Taliban officials have firmly rejected these demands, arguing that they undermine Afghanistan’s sovereignty and authority.
Observers warn that the continuation of this diplomatic impasse could negatively affect the security and economic conditions of both parties and deepen the Taliban administration’s political isolation in the region. This situation calls for a more transparent and accountable approach in foreign policy.
