Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Friday that peace negotiations with Afghanistan have been suspended indefinitely, citing a complete deadlock and the absence of any plans for a fourth round of talks.

“There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase,” Asif told Geo News, confirming that the truce discussions have stalled with no future schedule in sight.

The announcement follows the third round of talks held in Istanbul on Thursday between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led regime. The dialogue came at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries, marked by deadly border clashes and growing mistrust. The Istanbul meeting followed earlier five-day negotiations that had yielded a last-minute interim agreement.

Asif expressed gratitude to Turkey and Qatar for their mediation efforts, stating that both countries supported Pakistan’s position. “Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement,” he said. “They wanted verbal assurances to be accepted, which is not possible in international negotiations.”

The Defence Minister reiterated Pakistan’s primary demand: that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks against Pakistan. He warned that any aggression from Afghan soil would be met with a strong response. “If there is any attack from Afghan soil, we will respond accordingly,” Asif declared, while noting that the ceasefire would remain intact in the absence of provocation.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed similar sentiments in a post on X, emphasizing that while Pakistan holds no ill-will toward the Afghan people, it will not support any actions by the Taliban regime that threaten regional stability. “Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,” Tarar stated.

Despite the breakdown, a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the last round of talks affirmed both sides’ commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and establishing a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace and accountability for violations.