Pakistan's Defence Minister stated on Saturday that he believes Afghanistan desires peace, but warned that failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul could lead to "open war." This comes days after both sides agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes.
The Istanbul talks, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue into Sunday, represent the latest effort by Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent further violence after the worst border fighting since the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Kabul. The discussions aim to establish a long-term mechanism to enforce the Doha ceasefire.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif noted that there had been no incidents in the four to five days since the truce was agreed upon, and both sides had adhered to the ceasefire. "We have the option, if no agreement is reached, to go to open war with them," he said in televised comments from Pakistan. "But I believe they want peace."
The clashes earlier this month were triggered by Pakistan's demand that the Taliban curb militants operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. In response, Pakistan launched airstrikes across the border, leading to heavy exchanges of fire that killed dozens and resulted in the closure of key border crossings, which remain shut.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants who target Pakistani forces, while the Taliban denies the accusation, asserting that Pakistan's military actions violate Afghan sovereignty.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
Foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia and India raised concerns over export restrictions and economic coercion at a Quad meeting in Atlanta, U.S., on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to their joint statement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment