Talks aimed at securing a long-term truce between Afghanistan and Pakistan concluded in Istanbul without a “workable solution”, Pakistan’s information minister said on Wednesday, in a blow for peace in the region after deadly clashes this month.

The talks were aimed at reaching lasting peace between the South Asian neighbours after dozens were killed along their border in the worst such violence since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021.

“The Afghan Taliban Regime have been asked time and again to fulfil their written commitments to Pakistan and to the international community in Doha Agreement. However, Pakistan’s fervent efforts proved futile due to Afghan Taliban Regime’s unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists,” said Atta Tarar.

“The Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue, evading the key point upon which the dialogue process was initiated,” he continued.

“Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to blame game, deflection and ruses. The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution,” Tarar said.

He concluded that, “The security of its people is of paramount importance to Pakistan. We will continue to take all possible measures necessary to protect our people from the menace of terrorism and assure them that the Government of Pakistan will continue to employ all the resources which are required in this regard to decimate the terrorists, their sanctuaries, their abetters and supporters.”

Both nations agreed to a ceasefire brokered in Doha on October 19, but could not find common ground in a second round of talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar in Istanbul, Afghan and Pakistani sources briefed on the issue told Reuters on Tuesday, with each blaming the other for the failure.

The October clashes began after Pakistani air strikes this month on Kabul, the Afghan capital, among other locations, targeting the head of the Pakistani Taliban.