The third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul has ended without progress, with both nations raising fists. However, President Erdogan of Turkey has refused to give up and is sending a high level delegation to Islamabad this week in order to thrash out the issues that have failed to be resolved in three rounds of talks. Pakistani officials allege that Afghanistan’s Taliban government has dispersed TTP leaders among civilians to shield them from capture. The issue has become particularly serious as Pakistan stands MOUs with different countries, but KP and Balochistan remains a battlefield between dispossessed militants and the Pakistan military. The Taliban have refused to take responsibility for reining in militants. While a ceasefire is holding to enable Afghan refugees to return home, they are suffering the brunt of tensions. From Karachi, Asad Mumtaz reports that thousands of Afghan refugees remain stranded, their settlements demolished and families detained in police raids as deportations intensify. The refugees have the greatest stake in Istanbul being able to thrash out the issues between the two neighboring nations
