KABUL – Pakistan’s defence minister has warned of an “open war” with Afghanistan’s Taliban if ongoing peace talks in Istanbul fail to secure a lasting agreement, amid fragile efforts to uphold a ceasefire brokered last week in Doha.
Delegations from Islamabad and the Taliban met in Istanbul on Saturday for discussions in a bid to prevent renewed cross-border clashes that recently left dozens dead and hundreds injured, according to Reuters. The negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, continued through Sunday.
“We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Saturday in the eastern city of Sialkot. “But I saw that they want peace,” he added.
Tensions between the Taliban and Islamabad escalated sharply in recent weeks after Pakistan accused the group of harbouring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups. The Taliban in Kabul has denied the allegations, accusing Pakistan instead of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty through cross-border strikes.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday that the talks must address “the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan.”
Several key border crossings remain closed since the fighting erupted earlier this month, with Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating that traders are losing millions of dollars in daily revenue.
