The recent peace negotiations between
Istanbul-hosted delegates from Pakistan and Afghanistan collapsed after four
days, not over the surface issue of Indian interference as claimed by
Islamabad, but because Pakistan admitted it had a secret agreement allowing
U.S. drone operations from its soil.
The Drone
Deal That Broke Trust
Afghan negotiators demanded a written
assurance from Pakistan to halt violations of Afghan airspace and stop foreign
drone missions launched from Pakistan. In return, Afghanistan would commit to
preventing anti-Pakistan militant groups like the Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) crossing the border. However, Pakistan’s delegation eventually admitted
they had an agreement with the U.S. making them unable to commit to stopping
drone flights. This admission deepened mistrust and effectively derailed the
negotiations.
Blame Game
and Distractions
Following the breakdown, Pakistan’s Defence
Minister Khawaja Asif blamed India for sabotaging the talks, stating that “ the
people in Kabul pulling the strings are
being controlled by Delhi.” While Pakistan pointed to Indian interference,
Afghan media and negotiators pointed to the drone issue as the real trigger.
Fragile
Border Truce in the Background
The collapse of talks comes amid a fragile
ceasefire along the long, contested border known as the Durand Line, after
deadly clashes in September and October. Over 200 people reportedly died on
both sides in those exchanges. Afghanistan’s leadership warned Pakistan that
any fresh violation of Afghan airspace would invite “reciprocal response”.
Broader
Strategic Implications
This episode exposes a deeper issue:
Pakistan’s limited control over its own territory when foreign
military-operations agreements are involved, and the difficulty of negotiating
peace when one party is constrained by external commitments. It also signals
that the region’s security dynamic is affected not only by the hostilities
between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but also by the involvement of third-party
powers like the U.S. The breakdown of these talks suggests that sustainable
peace will require clarity, sovereignty respect and accountability of all
actors including those launching strikes.
What
Happens Next?
With the failure to reach a durable accord,
tensions remain high. Pakistan has warned of “open war” if no agreement is
reached. For Afghanistan, this collapse could mean renewed hostilities, border
clashes, and further instability for civilians living along the frontier.
Mediators from Qatar and Turkey, deeply engaged in brokering peace, may look to
reconvene, but trust was damaged. The drone issue remains a sticking point and
any future peace process will need to confront it head-on.
Conclusion
In straightforward terms: what looked like a
peace dialogue between neighbouring states turned into a deadlock when secret
military arrangements came to light. Pakistan’s admission of allowing U.S.
drone operations undermined the negotiations. Until the drone issue is
addressed, the border truce remains fragile and the chances of a long-term
peace remain slim.
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