Turkey’s Bid to Mediate Between Pakistan and Taliban Fails; Taliban Turns to India for Support

Islamabad/Ankara: Efforts by Turkey to mediate between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have collapsed, exposing the limits of Ankara’s influence in the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been actively seeking to expand Turkey’s strategic footprint from Gaza to Somaliland, faced a major setback as both Pakistan and the Taliban refused to reach a consensus.

According to CNN-News18, multiple rounds of mediation were held in Ankara, bringing leaders from Pakistan and the Taliban to the table. However, the talks failed entirely, forcing Turkey to step back from its mediating role. The breakdown comes amid escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where Pakistan’s airstrikes and trade blockades have cost Islamabad millions of dollars.

The Core of the Dispute: TTP
The primary source of conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban is the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). TTP militants, now described as a persistent threat to Pakistani forces, continue cross-border attacks, resulting in casualties among Pakistani soldiers. Islamabad has demanded that the Taliban hand over TTP operatives, establish a five-kilometer buffer along the Durand Line, monitor cross-border trade, and repatriate Afghan refugees.

The Taliban, however, have outright rejected these demands, stating that compliance would undermine Afghanistan’s sovereignty. The Taliban leadership has made it clear to Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia that it will not yield to Pakistani pressure. Repeated attempts by Turkey to secure written guarantees from the Taliban in favor of Pakistan were refused, leaving Ankara’s mediation efforts in shambles.

Shift Towards India
With mediation failing, the Taliban have begun seeking support from India, leveraging the Chabahar Port in Iran to reduce dependence on Pakistan’s Karachi Port. This move allows the Taliban to bypass Pakistan for essential supplies, including medicines, which are now being transported from India. Afghan efforts to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations further reduce Islamabad’s influence, while Pakistani traders face disruptions and economic losses.

Pakistan’s Options Narrow
Following the failed mediation, Pakistan now appears to be relying on Saudi Arabia as the only potential external actor capable of influencing peace between the two neighboring states. Islamabad has also warned that any major terrorist attack on Pakistani soil would be considered the Taliban’s responsibility and reaffirmed its readiness to take all necessary measures—including potential airstrikes inside Afghanistan—to defend its sovereignty.

The breakdown of Turkey’s mediation and the Taliban’s pivot to India underscore the deepening strategic rift between Islamabad and Kabul, signaling a major recalibration of regional alliances and influence.