Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan recently met in Istanbul for talks on how to ensure a ceasefire deal between the two countries. Amidst the discussions on the ceasefire, Pakistani ministers warned that the possibility of an open war could undermine the efforts to bring about peace.
The discussions, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday, come just after a truce was brokered in Doha by Qatar and Türkiye to end deadly clashes between the neighbours. The cross-border violence that recently occurred killed dozens and injured hundreds more.
“We have the option — if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said from the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot on Saturday. “But I saw that they want peace,” he added.
A report from Al Jazeera detailed how the technical-level talks in Türkiye are expected to pave the way for a permanent solution between the neighbours.
On Friday, a spokesperson from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that negotiations must address “the menace emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan.”
Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring what it calls “terrorist groups,” including the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Kabul has denied the allegations and has blamed Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes.
Key crossings between the two countries remain shut following the recent fighting, with Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating that traders are losing millions of dollars each day that the closure persists.
As the talks continue, the ceasefire that was announced in Doha last Sunday continues to hold.
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