New Delhi: Another attempt by regional negotiators to get Afghanistan and Pakistan to agree on a peace plan reportedly ended in a deadlock in Istanbul amid renewed fighting between the two countries. Both sides appear to be guided by mutual distrust, with pride and efforts at justifying individual stands overshadowing any other issue. The outcome once again has raised questions over regional stability.

The trust deficit was apparent even as the negotiators were preparing to leave for Istanbul, venue for the third round of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey, when Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif questioned the Taliban government’s “independent authority to hold talks”. He continued to blame India for influencing Kabul instead of trying to rebuild the bridge with the Taliban, which

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