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.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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