India, Nov. 9 -- As the final round of peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul fell flat, the Taliban government on Saturday said it has a right to defend itself in case of a war. Multiple rounds of negotiations have failed to end the skirmishes between the two South Asian neighbours who have are on a face-off after deadly border clashes that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians.

Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for the failure of the talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar, terming Pakistan's demands as unreasonable which stagnated the peace process as it raked up Afghanistan's "right to defend itself" in a war, news agency AP reported, quoting Afghan government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid.

Mujahid said that while Afghanis...