The recent collapse of the much-anticipated peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul has unveiled a complex web of diplomatic challenges, covert agreements, and regional tensions that go beyond the surface explanations offered by official statements. While Pakistan’s defence minister swiftly attributed the breakdown to Indian interference, reports from Afghan media have shed light on a different, more intricate cause: a secret agreement permitting the United States to conduct drone operations from Pakistani soil. This revelation not only derailed the negotiations but also exposed Pakistan’s limited control over its own airspace, complicating the fragile security dynamics between the two neighboring countries.
The negotiations, which lasted four intensive days, aimed to address longstanding conflicts and foster peace along the contentious Durand Line, the border separating Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan negotiators entered the talks with a straightforward demand: a written commitment from Pakistan to cease violations of Afghan airspace and prevent foreign drone flights over Afghan territory. In return, Kabul was prepared to take concrete steps against anti-Pakistan militant groups operating from Afghanistan, including the notorious Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This quid pro quo arrangement appeared to offer a promising pathway toward reducing cross-border violence and building mutual trust.
However, the talks reached an impasse when the Pakistani delegation made a startling admission. For the first time in such high-level negotiations, Islamabad acknowledged that a “foreign country” was conducting drone operations from its territory. Subsequent investigations and reporting by TOLO News clarified that this foreign country was indeed the United States. According to Afghan sources, Pakistan revealed that it had an existing agreement with the US allowing these drone strikes and claimed it was bound by this pact, making it unable to halt the operations despite Kabul’s requests.
This admission was significant for several reasons. It contradicted Pakistan’s longstanding public narrative of sovereignty and control over its airspace. Furthermore, it directly undermined Pakistan’s ability to meet Kabul’s basic demand for airspace respect and non-interference. The revelation was particularly embarrassing for Islamabad, suggesting that its military and political leadership did not have full authority over foreign military activities within its borders—a sensitive issue given the country’s emphasis on sovereignty and regional influence.
Adding to the intrigue was the sudden and unexplained reversal in Pakistan’s negotiating stance. Afghan officials recounted that the Pakistani delegation had initially appeared open to Kabul’s terms and seemed willing to find common ground. However, after a mysterious phone call—believed to originate from Pakistan’s military high command—the Pakistani team abruptly changed tactics. They insisted they had “no control” over the US drone operations and refused to provide any commitment to halt them. This unexpected shift caught mediators from Qatar and Turkey off guard, who had been optimistic about concluding a deal.
In the aftermath of this revelation, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif deflected attention from the drone controversy by accusing India of meddling in Afghan affairs. Speaking on Geo News, Asif claimed that influential figures in Kabul were “being controlled by Delhi,” framing India as the real instigator behind the failed talks. This accusation was widely seen as an attempt to divert scrutiny away from Islamabad’s drone agreement and the diplomatic setback it represented.
Afghan journalists and analysts were more direct in their criticism. Tameem Bahiss, a prominent Afghan commentator, highlighted on social media that Pakistan had openly “acknowledged signing an agreement with a ‘foreign country’ that permits drones to operate within its airspace for surveillance and potential strikes inside Afghanistan.” This acknowledgment was a significant blow to Pakistan’s credibility in the negotiations, revealing that Islamabad could not fulfill even the most fundamental request from Kabul: to keep foreign military aircraft out of Afghan skies.
The failure of the talks occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions and a fragile ceasefire along the Durand Line. In the months leading up to the negotiations, violent clashes had resulted in over 200 deaths on both sides, intensifying mutual distrust and hostility. The Taliban government in Kabul had repeatedly accused Pakistan of conducting cross-border air and drone strikes targeting Afghan civilians, including women and children. These accusations gained new weight following Pakistan’s admission of allowing US drone operations from its territory, raising serious concerns about civilian safety and sovereignty violations.
Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, issued a stern warning to Islamabad, emphasizing that “any fresh violation of Afghan airspace” would provoke a “reciprocal response.” This statement underscored the precarious situation along the border, where the inability or unwillingness of