PNN – A Pakistani media outlet, referring to the failure of the Istanbul talks and the recent meeting of Afghan and Pakistani officials in Riyadh, reported the possibility of a new round of negotiations mediated by Saudi Arabia.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the website “Diplomatic Insight” wrote in a report on the recent Afghanistan–Pakistan talks in Saudi Arabia: Sunday’s negotiations between Islamabad and Kabul in Riyadh ended without significant progress.
This Pakistani outlet added: This round of talks, which was arranged unofficially and briefly by Saudi officials, was held with the aim of reducing tensions after the October border clashes.
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An Afghan media outlet assessed the future of Kabul-Islamabad peace talks as unclear.
According to the report, the Taliban delegation led by Anas Haqqani and Rahmatullah Najeeb met with their Pakistani counterparts, but unlike previous sessions in Doha and Istanbul, this meeting was short and described as a brief exchange of views.
In this round of talks, Pakistan demanded action from Afghanistan against armed groups such as the terrorist group “Balochistan Liberation Army” as well as the terrorist group “Tehreek-e-Taliban.”
The Pakistani outlet *Diplomatic Insight* blamed Afghanistan for the failure of the Riyadh talks and wrote: The Taliban delegation insisted on its previous positions regarding Islamabad’s demands, and as a result, the talks reached a deadlock.
According to this report, the Saudis also proposed reopening bilateral trade, which Islamabad did not accept. Despite this deadlock, Saudi Arabia intends to continue its mediation, and there is a possibility of another meeting in the coming weeks.
This report shows that the Turkey–Qatar mediation track is currently halted and tensions between Kabul and Islamabad continue.