'If a war breaks out…': Taliban warns Pakistan not to ‘test Afghanistan’s patience’ as peace talks fail

Taliban Warns Pakistan As Peace Talks Collapse Again In Istanbul

The Taliban government has warned Pakistan against “testing the patience" of the Afghan administration after the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul, held on November 6 and 7, ended without progress.

The discussions, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, failed to secure a written commitment from Kabul to take action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants accused of using Afghan territory for cross-border attacks.

Following the collapse of the talks, Afghanistan’s Minister for Tribes, Borders, and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, warned Pakistani officials not to test the resolve of Afghans, saying the “elders and youth of Afghanistan will rise to fight" if war breaks out.

Speaking at a gathering, Noori cautioned Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif “not to be overly confident in his country’s technology” and urged him to learn from the experiences of the United States and Russia in Afghanistan, according to TOLO News. He also warned that Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces were “not far” should tensions escalate.

‘Some factions in Pak military not happy’

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said certain factions within Pakistan’s military were unhappy with Afghanistan’s growing stability and progress.

“These groups have historically benefited from Afghanistan’s insecurity, occupation, migration, and crises. They now seek to re-enter into confrontation with Afghanistan by fabricating new excuses," he said in an official statement.

He noted that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had facilitated talks between Islamabad and the TTP, leading to a long-term ceasefire and substantial progress in negotiations, but the process was later “sabotaged by certain factions of the Pakistan Army.”

Mujahid said the TTP issue dates back to 2002, rooted in “misguided policies” by elements within the Pakistani military that cooperated with the United States while allowing drone strikes in Waziristan.

“The Islamic Emirate continues to consider itself responsible for ensuring that no one uses its territory to interfere in the affairs of another country, and it will take necessary steps to prevent such actions," he added.

‘Irresponsible, non-cooperative’

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of adopting an “irresponsible and non-cooperative” approach during the Istanbul talks, alleging that Islamabad sought to shift “all security responsibility” onto Kabul while avoiding accountability for its own actions.

In a statement released by Mujahid on November 8, the Taliban thanked “the Republic of Turkey and the State of Qatar, the two brotherly countries, for hosting and mediating the talks.”

It said Afghan representatives participated “in good faith and with appropriate authority,” expecting Pakistan to act “seriously and constructively.”

The Taliban reaffirmed that Afghanistan would not allow its soil to be used against any country, nor permit violations of its sovereignty, vowing to “firmly defend against any aggression with the help of Allah and the support of its people.” While expressing solidarity with the “Muslim people of Pakistan,” the Taliban stressed that cooperation would occur only “within the limits of its responsibilities and capabilities.”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif later admitted that the Istanbul talks had “reached an uncertain stage with no results” and confirmed there were “no plans yet for a fourth round.” The failure marks the third unsuccessful attempt at resolving tensions following deadly border clashes in October.