Discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan aimed at easing bilateral tensions have concluded unsuccessfully in Istanbul, with the four-day dialogue yielding no concrete outcomes. According to reports, the Pakistani delegation withdrew from the talks due to unbridgeable gaps on critical issues, effectively halting progress. The recent diplomatic friction was exacerbated by an alleged Pakistani airspace violation, which led to a retaliatory reaction from Afghanistan. During the Istanbul meetings, Afghanistan reiterated its dedication to preventing the misuse of its territory for attacks against Pakistan. Simultaneously, Kabul pressed Pakistan to stop violating its airspace and to cease drone operations within Afghanistan. Pakistan’s rejection of these conditions has led to the current diplomatic deadlock. A central point of contention was Pakistan’s demand for Afghanistan to formally classify the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist entity and to initiate military action against it. Afghanistan’s Defense Minister reportedly stated that terrorism labels are frequently used for political purposes. This failure is significant, especially considering Pakistan’s previous indications of considering military options if diplomatic avenues proved fruitless, while Afghanistan has consistently advocated for dialogue.
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