US Drone Operations, Not India, Led to Collapse of Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Talks

Ongoing efforts to restore peace between Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Pakistan have revealed a dramatic twist: the collapse of earlier talks was not due to India’s interference, as Islamabad had claimed, but rather due to US drone operations conducted from Pakistani territory, according to reports from TOLO News.

Negotiations between the two neighbours, which recently resumed in Istanbul, had previously broken down in Turkey when Afghanistan demanded that Pakistan halt US drone flights in exchange for curbing cross-border militant activity. Pakistan’s refusal to meet this condition led to the stalemate, insiders say.

The Drone Dispute: The Real Reason Behind the Breakdown

According to TOLO News, Afghan negotiators agreed to prevent the use of Afghan soil for attacks on Pakistan only if Islamabad stopped US drone operations and respected Afghan airspace.

However, Pakistan refused the condition, later admitting during the Istanbul discussions that a “foreign country” — identified as the United States — was conducting drone surveillance and strikes from Pakistani soil.

Kabul-based journalist Tameem Bahiss posted on X that Pakistan “acknowledged signing an agreement with a foreign power” allowing drone flights for counterterrorism missions inside Afghanistan.

In a post dated October 28, TOLO News wrote:

“For the first time, Pakistan admitted during these negotiations that it has an agreement with the United States allowing drone strikes, and claimed it cannot break that agreement.”

The revelation reportedly shocked Qatari and Turkish mediators, who were facilitating the talks, as Pakistan negotiators reversed positions following a phone call from their military high command — indicating they had no authority over US drone operations.

Pakistan Blames India, Deflects Responsibility

Despite these admissions, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif publicly blamed India for the failed talks.

“The people in Kabul pulling the strings and staging the puppet show are being controlled by Delhi,” Asif told Geo News, accusing India of sabotaging the dialogue.

His comments, however, ignored Pakistan’s internal contradictions and the growing evidence that its US drone cooperation was the actual reason talks failed.

Tensions and Threats Escalate

Following the failed negotiations, Khwaja Asif issued a stark warning to the Taliban, invoking the 2001 Battle of Tora Bora, where Taliban forces were routed by US-led coalitions.

“Pakistan doesn’t need to use even a fraction of its arsenal to crush the Taliban regime,” Asif said. “If they wish, they will once again find themselves pushed back into the caves.”

The remarks have heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, already strained by border clashes and escalating Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks.

US-Pakistan Military Alignment Under Trump

Under former US President Donald Trump, Pakistan has reportedly deepened defence cooperation with Washington, even as it faces economic turmoil.

High-level meetings, including one where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir met Trump at the White House, underscored this growing partnership.

Trump, meanwhile, has demanded the return of the Bagram Air Base from the Taliban, warning of “consequences” if the US loses control over strategic assets in Afghanistan.

Sharif has praised Trump’s “historic leadership” and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his mediation in India-Pakistan ceasefire talks.

Durand Line and Drone Tensions Continue

Despite claims of improved relations, the Durand Line — the colonial-era boundary dividing Pashtun regions — remains a flashpoint.

Clashes in September killed over 200 people after Pakistan launched airstrikes into Kabul and Kandahar, responding to TTP incursions. Drone strikes and JF-17 bombings reportedly caused dozens of civilian deaths, deepening anti-Pakistan sentiment in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s Contradictions Exposed

Analysts say Pakistan’s admission that the US conducts drone operations from its territory has exposed its policy contradictions.

Journalist Ali M. Latifi noted:

“Pakistan admitting that the US conducts drone strikes from its territory is telling. Pakistan itself was one of the biggest victims of Obama’s drone wars.”

Observers say the revelation undermines Islamabad’s credibility, as it continues to present itself as a victim of foreign interference while actively facilitating such operations.

Conclusion: Drone Diplomacy Over Dialogue

The Istanbul talks have made clear that Pakistan’s covert drone arrangement with the US — not India’s influence — was the true cause of the diplomatic deadlock.

With Afghanistan refusing to accept continued drone incursions and Pakistan unable to defy its US commitments, the path to regional peace appears blocked by foreign military dependencies and geopolitical mistrust.

Originally published on newsworldstime.com.