Taliban Insists Ceasefire with Pakistan Will Hold After Talks Collapse in Turkey

Taliban: Ceasefire to Hold Despite Failed Turkey Talks

Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Saturday that a ceasefire with Pakistan will remain in effect even though negotiations in Turkey to finalise a truce broke down. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid blamed what he described as Islamabad's 'irresponsible and uncooperative' stance for the failure to reach an agreement.

Talks and immediate fallout

The delegations met in Turkey on Thursday to try to finalise a truce first agreed on October 19 in Qatar after deadly clashes between the neighbouring countries. Both sides have been discreet about the details, but discussions focused on long-standing security concerns along the 2,600-kilometre border.

'During the discussions, the Pakistani side attempted to shift all responsibility for its security to the Afghan government, while showing no willingness to take responsibility for either Afghanistan's security or its own,' Mujahid wrote on social media.

Reactions and warnings

There was no immediate comment from Islamabad or from third-party mediators. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had earlier warned that Afghanistan had not fulfilled pledges to crack down on terrorism and said Pakistan would 'continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty'.

Border fighting and casualties

The talks were further jeopardised after both sides blamed each other for border fighting in Spin Boldak on the Afghan side. A district hospital official told AFP that five people were killed in that clash, including four women and one man. The Taliban spokesman said Afghanistan did not retaliate 'out of respect for the negotiating team and to prevent the loss of civilian lives'.

Underlying disputes

Islamabad accuses Afghan authorities of harbouring and supporting militant groups that carry out attacks inside Pakistan, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The Taliban government denies these charges and insists Kabul's territorial sovereignty be respected, while also accusing Pakistan of backing hostile armed factions. Both sides have warned of renewed hostilities after earlier clashes that killed more than 70 people and wounded hundreds.

Outlook: With negotiations stalled and tensions high, the durability of the ceasefire will depend on tangible steps by both sides and on whether mediators can secure verifiable guarantees addressing mutual security concerns.