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Istanbul: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday resumed negotiations seeking peace in the region, as both countries violated the ceasefire, leading to the failure of the agreement reached during the Turkey talks. Pakistan has been blaming India for the failed Istanbul talks, with its Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stating that the people in Kabul pulling the strings and staging the upper show are being controlled by Delhi. However, Afghan news outlet TOLO News, citing sources, revealed the real reason why the Turkey talks couldn’t hold much and collapsed within four days. As another round of negotiations took place today between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Turkey, Pakistan admitted that it has a pact with the United States to allow drone strikes from within its territory, adding that it cannot break that agreement. This came after a Pakistani delegation reportedly admitted that a "foreign country" was conducting drone operations from its territory, a development that was also confirmed by TOLOnews. This development exposes Pakistani lies despite knowing that the real reason behind the failed Turkey talks was its own pact with the United States, it still dared to blame India for tensions between the two nations. What Afghanistan Told Pakistan in Latest Round of Turkey Talks As talks resumed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Turkey, sources said that Afghans committed to Islamabad that it would prevent the use of its soil by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks against Pakistan. But this would only happen if Pakistan assured that it would not allow its land to be used for US drone strikes. According to TOLO News, Pakistan failed to give assurance to Afghanistan, citing that it has a pact with the United States and that it cannot break it. A Kabul-based journalist, Tameem Bahiss, took to X, formerly Twitter, and reported, “According to Afghan news channels, Pakistan has acknowledged signing an agreement with a 'foreign country' that permits drones to operate within its airspace for surveillance and potential strikes inside Afghanistan.” Earlier on October 28, TOLO News wrote, “For the first time, Pakistan admitted during these negotiations that it has an agreement with the United States allowing drone strikes, and claimed it cannot break that agreement.” Pakistan Earlier Agreed to Some Assurances but Then a Call Came from Islamabad Sources have reported that Pakistan, during the negotiations, did agree to abide by some of the assurances requested by Afghanistan, but then a phone call came from Islamabad, possibly from the High Command, after which they refused to accept the terms. Some reports cite that Pakistan said it had no control over US actions against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Even Qatari and Turkish mediators were taken aback and quite surprised by Pakistan’s reaction, stating that it had no control over US drones. Did Pakistan Request To Resume Peace Talks? The new round of negotiations, facilitated by Turkey and other friendly nations, was aimed at easing border tensions between the two sides who earlier this month exchanged fire, leaving dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants dead. Despite the collapse of the previous round of talks, a ceasefire has largely held and no new border clashes were reported this week. However, both countries have kept major crossings closed, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying goods and refugees stranded on each side. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif told the Geo news channel that the decision to give peace another chance was made by Pakistan at the request of Qatar and Turkey, and that the Pakistani delegation, set to return home last night, was asked to stay in Istanbul. According to Pakistani state-run television, Islamabad said the talks will be based on Pakistan’s central demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable and effective action against militant groups. With inputs from AP
