Pak-Afghan relations have reached a dead-end following the collapse of Istanbul talks due to the Taliban's refusal to give a written commitment to end their support for terrorist groups based in Afghanistan that repeatedly attack Pakistan. Accordingly, Pakistan is no longer bound by the ceasefire agreement of 18 October and reserves the right to respond with force against any terrorist attack emanating from Afghan soil.

Owing to geopolitical compulsions, Pakistan has consistently sought friendly relations with Kabul to avoid a two-front simultaneous confrontation involving Afghanistan and India. Additionally, cooperation with Afghanistan has been essential for regional connectivity with land-locked Central Asian States.

However, successive Afghan governments, including the present Taliba

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