The much-anticipated peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended abruptly after a bitter dispute over US drone operations, plunging diplomatic efforts into chaos and raising fresh fears of regional instability.
The Istanbul dialogue, facilitated by mediators from Qatar and Turkey, aimed to rebuild trust between Islamabad and Kabul following months of escalating border tensions. However, discussions fell apart after the Afghan delegation demanded assurances that Pakistan would not allow US drones to operate from its territory and violate Afghan airspace.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistani negotiators initially acknowledged a drone cooperation arrangement with the United States but later retracted the statement, claiming Islamabad had no control over Washington’s operations. The reversal sparked outrage from the Afghan side, who accused Pakistan of duplicity.
Witnesses described the atmosphere inside the meeting as tense and disorderly. Members of Pakistan’s team reportedly lost their composure, refused to engage on key points, and resorted to harsh language — behavior that stunned mediators. The Afghan side walked out soon after, effectively ending the session without a joint statement or resolution.
The collapse of the talks has frozen any immediate prospects of dialogue between the two neighboring countries. Analysts warn that the breakdown could intensify hostilities along the volatile border, where both sides have accused each other of harboring militants and conducting cross-border attacks.
The episode also underscored deep divisions within Pakistan’s power structure, as conflicting signals from civilian and military authorities muddled the country’s diplomatic stance.
The failure of the Istanbul meeting is being viewed as a major setback for efforts to stabilize South and Central Asia. Qatar and Turkey, both of whom played mediator roles, are reportedly assessing whether another round of talks can be salvaged.
Observers say Afghanistan is likely to demand written guarantees on sovereignty violations before any future engagement, while Pakistan faces pressure to clarify its position on US drone activity.
Unless urgent diplomatic repair efforts are made, the fallout from Istanbul could harden positions on both sides — pushing the region closer to renewed confrontation instead of peace.