Afghan Foreign Minister Blames Pakistan’s ‘Unreasonable Demands’ for Collapse of Bilateral Talks

Kabul, November 10: In a strong criticism of Islamabad, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has held Pakistan’s “stubborn and unreasonable” stance responsible for the failure of the latest round of talks between the two countries.

Addressing the media in Kabul, Muttaqi said that the negotiations held recently in Istanbul collapsed because Pakistan’s conditions were “neither practical nor acceptable” to the Taliban government.

Disagreement Over TTP and Security Guarantees

According to Muttaqi, Islamabad had insisted that the Taliban provide a guarantee of peace within Pakistan and take concrete action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“They wanted us to ensure peace in Pakistan, but their own forces are beyond our control,” Muttaqi said.
“They even demanded that the TTP be relocated to Afghanistan — a condition that is simply impossible.”

He confirmed that the Afghan delegation had concluded its participation in the Istanbul discussions after the talks reached a deadlock, rejecting Islamabad’s claim that the Taliban had withdrawn abruptly.

“It was Pakistan’s unrealistic expectations that stalled the discussions,” he asserted.

Muttaqi Rejects Pakistan’s Accusations

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants responsible for attacks inside its territory. Muttaqi, however, dismissed these allegations, arguing that Pakistan’s internal instability cannot be attributed to Afghanistan.

“The TTP has been active in Pakistan for the past 25 years. Their existence predates us,” he said.
“Pakistan has failed to secure its own borders and should not shift the blame onto Afghanistan.”

Accusations of Airspace Violations

Muttaqi further accused Islamabad of provoking tensions by allowing airstrikes and drone incursions into Afghan territory.

“We told Pakistan to stop Daesh [ISIS] infiltration into Afghanistan and to prevent drone flights from its airspace,” he said, warning that such actions constitute violations of Afghan sovereignty.

Call for Mutual Respect

Despite the tensions, the Afghan foreign minister reiterated Kabul’s commitment to maintaining peaceful relations with its neighbours.

“Afghanistan does not interfere in others’ affairs, and we expect the same in return,” he said. “Stability in the region can only be achieved through mutual respect.”

While the Taliban government continues to deny the presence of TTP fighters within Afghanistan, a United Nations monitoring report published in September estimated that approximately 6,000 TTP members remain active across several Afghan provinces — a claim that continues to strain Kabul–Islamabad relations.