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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