Pakistan minister warns of ‘open war’ with Afghanistan if peace talks fail - prayer and diplomacy needed
Assalamu Alaikum - Pakistan and Afghanistan officials met in Istanbul to try to make last week’s ceasefire stick, and Pakistan’s defence minister warned that failure could lead to open war.
By news agencies
Officials from both countries began talks in Istanbul on Saturday, expected to continue Sunday, a few days after Qatar and Türkiye helped broker a truce in Doha to stop deadly clashes along the border. The violence killed dozens and left hundreds injured.
From Sialkot, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said, “We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” but he also added he saw that the other side wants peace.
Reporting from Istanbul, correspondents say these technical-level meetings in Türkiye aim to help find a lasting solution between the neighbours. Afghanistan’s delegation is led by Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib; Pakistan has not publicly listed its full team.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has said the talks must tackle the problem of terrorism it says is coming from Afghan soil. Islamabad accuses certain groups of finding sanctuary across the border; Kabul denies harbouring them and warns against violations of its sovereignty.
Key border crossings remain closed after the recent fighting, and Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce warns traders are losing millions each day while the closures persist.
Analysts say a major point in Istanbul will be intelligence-sharing on armed groups - for example, Pakistan sharing coordinates of suspected militants and expecting Afghan authorities to take action instead of allowing cross-border strikes.
For now the Doha ceasefire appears to be holding. Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said there have been no major full-scale attacks from Afghan soil in recent days and called the Doha outcome fruitful, adding the hope that positive trends continue through and after the Istanbul talks.
May Allah guide both countries to justice, peace, and safety for civilians. Please remember those affected by the clashes in your duas.
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