KABUL: Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan have hit a deadlock, Afghan state media reported on Tuesday, following days of negotiations in Istanbul, as tensions remained high along the neighbors’ shared border.
The talks in Istanbul, hosted by the Turkish government and facilitated by Qatar, are part of a broader diplomatic push to reach a long-term truce between Islamabad and Kabul, following border clashes earlier this month that killed dozens on both sides, making it their deadliest confrontation in years.
Their first round of negotiations was held on Oct. 19 and hosted by Qatar, which led to a ceasefire agreement.
“The delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has made every effort to conduct constructive and result-oriented dialogues during the ongoing negotiations with Pakistan in Turkey. However, the Pakistani side appears unwilling to engage seriously in the discussions,” state media Radio Television Afghanistan reported on Tuesday.
The Pakistan delegation “seems inclined to withdraw rather than present substantiated arguments at the negotiating table,” it added.
