Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said that the negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been suspended, with "no programme for the fourth round of talks".
"There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase," he said while speaking on Geo News' programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath".
Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime had kicked off the third round of talks in Istanbul on Thursday in an effort to ease escalating tensions following last month's deadly border clashes. The Istanbul meeting follows the earlier five-day talks that resulted in a last-minute interim agreement.
The defence minister thanked Turkiye and Qatar for their "sincere efforts" to mediate tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
"They support our stance. Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement," he said, adding that Pakistan would accept only a formal, written accord.
"They wanted verbal assurances to be accepted, which is not possible in international negotiations," he noted.
Asif said the mediators had done their best but eventually lost hope. "If they had even a little optimism, they would have asked us to stay. Our return empty-handed shows that even they have given up on Kabul," he remarked.
The minister reiterated that Pakistan's position remained firm and clear. "Our only demand is that Afghanistan must ensure its soil is not used for attacks on Pakistan," he said.
He warned that Pakistan would respond if provoked. "If there is any attack from Afghan soil, we will respond accordingly," he stated, adding that as long as there is no aggression, the ceasefire will remain intact.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X today that the onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfil its long-standing international, regional, and bilateral pledges, regarding control of terrorism, in which so far they have failed.
He emphasised Pakistan's goodwill towards the Afghan people but warned against supporting any Taliban measures that harm Afghanistan or neighbouring countries.
"Pakistan does not harbour any ill-will against the Afghan people. However, it shall never support the Afghan Taliban Regime's any measures that are detrimental to the interest of the Afghan people as well as the neighbouring countries," Tarar said.
The minister added that Pakistan will continue to safeguard its citizens and sovereignty. "Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty," he concluded.
Prior to this development, the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime was held on October 25 in Istanbul, Turkiye.
The talks collapsed after Pakistan refused to accept the Taliban delegation's "illogical" arguments and refusal to address Islamabad's concerns regarding cross-border terrorism.
However, mediators persuaded Pakistan to give the talks another chance, which ultimately resulted in an agreement to uphold the ceasefire.
At the end of the previous round of talks, a joint statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry stated that all parties had agreed to maintain the ceasefire and establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace and penalise any violations.