As Afghan-Pakistan talks falter, fears of a wider conflict grow

Region could slide back into instability if Kabul and Islamabad fail to contain violence

- Ashraf Khan

Afghan refugees preparing to return to Afghanistan at the border in Chaman, Pakistan, on Oct 26. The latest series of talks between the two countries followed a surge in cross-border attacks inside Pakistan by the TTP militant group that Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of sheltering.

(PHOTO: EPA)

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul ended on Nov 7 without making headway, fuelling concerns of renewed cross-border attacks and retaliation that could worsen unless there is a resolution soon.

“The talks in Istanbul are at a stalemate and over,” said Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, referring to the third round of negotiations since October.

A border conflict could destabilise both nations as well as regional security, officials and analysts said.

The latest series of talks, brokered by Turkey and Qatar, followed a surge in cross-border attacks inside Pakistan by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of sheltering.

The unrelenting assaults, which have killed dozens of Pakistani security personnel in recent months, prompted retaliatory air strikes by Pakistan on Kabul and several Afghan provinces, pushing the two neighbours to the brink of open conflict.

"Let me assure them (the Taliban) that Pakistan does not need to employ even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime and push them back to the caves," Mr Asif warned on X after an earlier round of talks ended in failure.

He reiterated on Nov 7 that nuclear-armed Pakistan would launch what he called a “befitting response” if any assault were launched from Afghan soil.