Istanbul Talks Face Cyber Attacks, Raising Concerns for Peace Process

In a digital age where diplomacy increasingly plays out online, recent talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have revealed the extent to which social media has become a battlefield for regional relations. What was intended as a diplomatic effort to stabilize relations between the neighboring countries has instead exposed a sophisticated propaganda campaign undermining the peace process.

As diplomats convened in Istanbul to address deteriorating Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Afghan government-linked networks launched a coordinated anti-Pakistan propaganda effort across social media platforms. The timing of this digital offensive coincided precisely with Pakistan’s demands for written counterterrorism guarantees from Kabul.

Digital accounts connected to Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and pro-Taliban influencers flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram with accusations that Pakistan was “sabotaging peace” and “shifting blame.” This pattern has become recognizable – whenever Pakistan presses for verifiable commitments regarding militant groups operating from Afghan soil, online outrage campaigns emerge to reframe the narrative.

The core issue remains straightforward. Pakistan has consistently sought assurances that Afghanistan will eliminate sanctuaries used by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), groups responsible for deadly attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces. The TTP, notably behind some of Pakistan’s most devastating terror attacks, continues to operate openly in eastern Afghanistan.

“This weaponization of information marks a dangerous evolution in conflict,” notes a regional security analyst familiar with the situation. “Digital disinformation has become as significant as physical security threats in destabilizing bilateral relations.”

The Istanbul talks represented an opportunity to reset relations after months of escalating border tensions and cross-border violence. Instead, the diplomatic process faces continuous undermining by what appears to be state-sponsored digital interference campaigns designed to distract from Afghanistan’s reluctance to address Pakistan’s security concerns.

The contradiction is striking – while Afghan officials publicly advocate for “mutual respect and cooperation” during formal talks, networks affiliated with Kabul simultaneously amplify anti-Pakistan sentiment online. This dual approach – conducting diplomacy through official channels while waging information warfare in digital spaces – threatens to erode any progress made at the negotiating table.

Pakistan has largely refrained from responding in kind to these digital provocations. Islamabad continues to focus on securing concrete, verifiable commitments that Afghan territory won’t be used as a launching pad for attacks against Pakistan – a demand consistent with international norms regarding sovereignty and non-interference.

Security experts point out that Pakistan’s position reflects standard counterterrorism protocols. “When a country faces cross-border terrorism, seeking written guarantees from neighboring states is neither unusual nor unreasonable,” explains Dr. Amir Khan, an international relations professor specializing in South Asian security. “What makes this situation unique is the sophisticated digital campaign attempting to distract from these legitimate security concerns.”

The ramifications extend beyond bilateral relations. Regional stability in South Asia depends significantly on Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation, particularly regarding counterterrorism efforts. The persistent digital disinformation campaigns threaten to derail progress on shared security challenges that affect the entire region.

For Afghanistan, now governed by the Taliban, establishing international legitimacy requires demonstrating a commitment to preventing terrorist organizations from using its territory. The digital propaganda efforts undermining talks with Pakistan may provide short-term narrative advantages but risk long-term diplomatic isolation.

As the Istanbul process continues, both countries face a critical choice. Digital deflection and information warfare may serve immediate tactical purposes, but lasting peace requires addressing the uncomfortable realities of cross-border militancy and terrorism.

The international community, meanwhile, must recognize that modern conflict now unfolds simultaneously across multiple domains – physical, diplomatic, and digital. Unless all parties commit to honest engagement across each front, regional stability will remain elusive, regardless of how many formal dialogues take place in conference rooms around the world.