Taliban Warns Pakistan After Peace Talks Collapse: ‘Don’t Test Kabul’s Patience’

ANS: The Taliban government has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, cautioning Islamabad against “testing the patience” of Kabul after the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul failed to make headway over the issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.

The two-day talks, held on November 6–7 and mediated by Turkey and Qatar, were aimed at securing a written commitment from the Taliban to curb TTP activities allegedly operating from Afghan soil. However, the discussions ended in deadlock, further straining relations between the uneasy neighbours.

Afghan Minister Issues Direct Threat

Following the failed negotiations, Afghanistan’s Minister for Tribes, Borders, and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, delivered a fiery address warning Pakistan that the country’s “elders and youth will rise to fight” if war erupts.

Speaking at a public gathering, Noori directly targeted Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, cautioning him against relying too heavily on Islamabad’s military capabilities.

“Pakistan should learn from history,” Noori declared, invoking the defeats of the United States and Russia in Afghanistan. “Sindh and Punjab are not far away,” he warned — a remark widely interpreted as a direct threat of potential armed confrontation.

Noori’s statement came in response to Khawaja Asif’s earlier warning that Pakistan might consider “direct action” if the Istanbul talks failed to yield results.

🚨 BIG WARNING from Afghanistan to Pakistan

Afghan FM: “Do NOT test the patience of the Afghan people. Don’t provoke them too much.” 🔥

“Ask the British…ask the Soviets… ask America… ask NATO — they’ll tell you what happens when you PLAY games with Afghanistan.” 💥 pic.twitter.com/Efar9PjmmW

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 10, 2025

Taliban Spokesperson Blames Pakistan’s Military Factions

In a separate statement, Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesperson of the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate, accused certain factions within Pakistan’s military of “deliberately destabilising” relations between the two nations.

“These elements are unhappy with a strong and independent Afghanistan,” Mujahid alleged. “For decades, they benefited from Afghanistan’s insecurity, migration, and chaos — and now seek new excuses for confrontation.”

He also blamed Pakistan’s internal military policies for the rise of TTP in 2002, saying those policies — especially cooperation with the U.S. during the war on terror and permitting drone strikes in Waziristan — had alienated local populations.

Taliban Accuses Islamabad of ‘Sabotaging Peace’

Mujahid further claimed that the Taliban government had facilitated talks between Islamabad and the TTP, resulting in a long-term ceasefire and partial progress — only for those efforts to be “sabotaged by certain elements” in Pakistan’s establishment.

“The Islamic Emirate is committed to ensuring that Afghan soil is not used against any country,” Mujahid said. “We will continue to take necessary steps to prevent such activities.”

Kabul Slams Pakistan as ‘Irresponsible’

Following the collapse of the Istanbul round, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of adopting an “irresponsible and non-cooperative” approach during the negotiations. They alleged Islamabad was attempting to offload its internal security problems onto Kabul while refusing to address the root causes of militancy within Pakistan itself.

The Istanbul session was the third failed attempt at dialogue since October, following earlier rounds in Doha and Istanbul on October 25 and 29. None of the meetings have produced any concrete results, and no new date has been set for further talks.

Regional Tensions Escalate

The breakdown of talks has deepened mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad, whose relations have worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Pakistan continues to accuse Afghanistan of harbouring TTP fighters responsible for cross-border attacks, while the Taliban accuses Islamabad of meddling in Afghan affairs and resenting a “strong, unified Afghanistan.”

Regional observers warn that the diplomatic deadlock could escalate into a broader confrontation, with mounting border tensions along the Durand Line threatening to destabilise the already volatile region.