Islamabad: Backchannel negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been put on hold, with focus now shifting to the formal dialogue process.
According to an informed source, the last backchannel meeting occurred on December 19, 2024, involving a government minister and a senior official, while PTI was represented by a key party leader.
These backchannel contacts had been active during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and PTI’s November protest march to Islamabad.
During the SCO summit, PTI agreed to call off its protest at D-Chowk after backchannel discussions ensured that doctors from PIMS hospital would be allowed to visit jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.
The November 26 events were a major setback for these negotiations, as the government concluded that PTI’s second-tier leadership lacked authority, and Imran Khan himself was unwilling to compromise.
Formal talks between the government and PTI have since begun, but the backchannel interactions remain paused. The focus is now on advancing the formal dialogue process.
