It has been widely reported that negotiations between the Taliban and Pakistani delegations in Türkiye have failed to produce an agreement on the key demands of both sides.
Regardless of their mutual accusations and public posture, any course other than a peaceful resolution of the conflict will prove disastrous — trapping both countries in perpetual confrontation, bloodshed and insecurity, with far-reaching consequences for the wider region and the international community.
Such a course would inevitably draw in other actors — regional or global, state or non-state — each pursuing their own agendas. This would only deepen and complicate the existing challenges facing both countries, making them far more difficult to resolve.
It is therefore both common sense and a moral imperative that the two sides pursue a political path to address the root causes of the conflict — a conflict that has already exacted an excruciating toll on their peoples.
First, both Pakistan and the Taliban must sever all ties with terrorist networks, whether domestic or foreign. This is essential not only for the peace and stability of their own countries but also for that of the broader international community.
The Taliban should by now have realised that it was a grave mistake to heed and rely on the Pakistani military in waging war against their own people over the past two decades. Likewise, Pakistan must have recognised that supporting non-state militant actors against its neighbours was both a strategic and moral failure.
Second, both must end the oppression of their citizens, respect fundamental rights and freedoms, and uphold the rule of law. The Taliban must listen to the Afghan people and immediately initiate intra-Afghan negotiations with other “Afghan sides” (reference by the Taliban in the Doha peace agreement to non-Taliban Afghans) to achieve an inclusive settlement that guarantees human rights, legitimate governance, and lasting peace and security.
The Afghan people seek the rights and freedoms enshrined in their constitution and affirmed by Afghanistan’s international obligations — rights that are also respected across much of the Muslim world.
Similarly, the Pakistani military and government must heed the voices of their citizens who continue to suffer systemic abuse and discrimination. They must respond to the legitimate demands of the Pashtuns, the Baloch, and other Pakistanis calling for security, the rule of law, democracy, and accountability.