PAK-Afghan talks continued in Istanbul on Monday for the third day, but at the time of writing, there were few signs of a breakthrough that could lead to lasting peace, and staunch the wave of terrorism afflicting Pakistan.

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block is the fact that the Afghan Taliban are unwilling to give ironclad guarantees that their soil will not be used by banned groups such as the TTP and the BLA to carry out acts of terrorism against this country.

Complicating matters was the fact — as related by sources — that Kabul’s rulers were “following someone else’s agenda”, an allusion to the recent bonhomie between India and the Taliban. Reportedly, the........

© Dawn