Pakistan Warns of ‘Open War’ if Afghan Talks Fail

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warned that failure to reach an agreement with Afghanistan during ongoing peace talks in Istanbul could lead to an “open war.”

Speaking on Saturday, Asif said he believed Afghanistan’s leaders were interested in peace but cautioned that the situation could escalate if negotiations fail.

The two-day talks in Istanbul, which began on Saturday, aim to strengthen a ceasefire agreement following the deadliest border clashes between the two neighbours since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

“As of now, there have been no incidents in the past four or five days, and both sides are respecting the truce,” Asif said in televised remarks. “If no agreement is reached, we have the option of open war—but I believe they want peace.”

The recent clashes erupted after Pakistan urged the Taliban to act against militants allegedly using Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan.

Islamabad responded with airstrikes across the border, triggering heavy exchanges of fire that killed dozens and led to the closure of key crossings that remain shut.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of harbouring militants who target its forces, while the Taliban denies the allegations and accuses Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty through cross-border military operations.