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Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said discussions between Kabul and Islamabad collapsed because the Pakistani delegation presented "unreasonable and impractical" demands, according to the Kabul-based broadcaster Tolo News.
Muttaqi, speaking at an event in Kabul, referred to recent meetings held in Istanbul and claimed that one of Pakistan’s key requests was "a guarantee that no security incident will ever occur in Pakistan again," which he described as unrealistic.
Muttaqi added that Afghanistan seeks friendly and respectful relations with Pakistan but would continue to safeguard its territorial integrity. The minister also accused Islamabad of exerting pressure on Afghanistan by closing key trade routes between the two countries.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated after border clashes earlier in October. A 48-hour ceasefire declared on Oct. 15 was later extended until the conclusion of talks held in Doha, Qatar, with mediation support from Türkiye and Qatar.
The Doha negotiations focused on extending the ceasefire and resolving recent border conflicts. Both sides reached an understanding, and it was agreed that a technical committee would convene in Istanbul to finalize the ceasefire’s implementation details.
Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan met in Istanbul on Oct. 25 to begin discussions, concluding the first round on Oct. 30 with a mutual decision to reconvene. However, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced on Nov. 7 that the talks had failed and were suspended.
Following the breakdown, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during his return from Azerbaijan that Türkiye would continue to play a mediating role. He confirmed that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Ibrahim Kalin would jointly visit Pakistan in the coming week to address the ongoing tensions.
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