Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has issued a stark warning that his country will go to "open war" with Afghanistan if peace talks fail, sparking concerns about the escalating tensions between the two neighbours.
The warning comes as officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan hold talks in Istanbul on how to consolidate the recent ceasefire deal brokered in Doha. The discussions began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday.
Asif's comments suggest that Pakistan views Afghanistan as a threat, citing the presence of terrorist groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TPP), which Islamabad claims is being harboured by Kabul. However, Kabul denies these allegations and blames Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes.
The talks in Istanbul are seen as a crucial step in ensuring the ceasefire holds, with key topics such as intelligence-sharing on armed groups expected to be discussed. Pakistan has proposed that Afghanistan take action against suspected TTP fighters or commanders, rather than allowing them to operate freely.
Despite this, optimism remains about the peace process, with Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stating that the Doha talks were fruitful and expressing a desire for the trend to continue in Istanbul and beyond.
The situation is precarious, however, as key crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain shut following recent fighting. Traders are estimated to be losing millions of dollars each day due to the closure, highlighting the economic costs of the ongoing tensions.
As the talks in Istanbul unfold, it remains to be seen whether they will yield a lasting solution or if the threat of open war hangs over the region. One thing is certain: the situation demands careful management to prevent further escalation and protect the fragile peace process.
The warning comes as officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan hold talks in Istanbul on how to consolidate the recent ceasefire deal brokered in Doha. The discussions began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday.
Asif's comments suggest that Pakistan views Afghanistan as a threat, citing the presence of terrorist groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TPP), which Islamabad claims is being harboured by Kabul. However, Kabul denies these allegations and blames Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes.
The talks in Istanbul are seen as a crucial step in ensuring the ceasefire holds, with key topics such as intelligence-sharing on armed groups expected to be discussed. Pakistan has proposed that Afghanistan take action against suspected TTP fighters or commanders, rather than allowing them to operate freely.
Despite this, optimism remains about the peace process, with Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stating that the Doha talks were fruitful and expressing a desire for the trend to continue in Istanbul and beyond.
The situation is precarious, however, as key crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain shut following recent fighting. Traders are estimated to be losing millions of dollars each day due to the closure, highlighting the economic costs of the ongoing tensions.
As the talks in Istanbul unfold, it remains to be seen whether they will yield a lasting solution or if the threat of open war hangs over the region. One thing is certain: the situation demands careful management to prevent further escalation and protect the fragile peace process.
just saw that Pakistan's defense minister is threatening an "open war" with Afghanistan lol what's going on there? 
like, can't we all just get along? 
i feel bad for the traders who are losing millions because of this situation... 
and not lead to any more violence 
pakistan is all mad cuz they think afghans r harbouring terrorist groups but afghans dont believe that lol & now theyre threatening to go open war 
its like the whole region is caught in the middle & im just worried bout what happens next 
Pakistan's on thin ice with Afghanistan - one wrong move and it's open war 
. Economic hit from crossing closures is huge - who gets hurt most? 
, just what we need more saber-rattling from Pakistan's Defence Minister 
. I mean, who needs a clear plan when you can just threaten open war 
? It's not like the situation is already volatile enough 
The world knows Pakistan's military has been using drones to attack Afghan targets for years... it's all good 
.
, but let's not get too carried away here 
. We've seen this movie before 
, and the "fruitful" discussions don't always lead to actual progress 
, right? Just please, for the love of all things sane, can someone just manage these tensions without resorting to threats 
? 
. But if it doesn't, and open war becomes a reality... well, we can only hope that neither side gets too damaged 
. The world needs to keep an eye on this situation, 'cause the ripple effects could be felt far beyond just Pakistan and Afghanistan 
. Pakistan is right to say that Kabul is harbouring terrorist groups, it's not like they're reading from a script here 
. And honestly, if Pakistan takes action against these suspected TTP fighters, maybe Afghanistan will finally do something about it instead of just denying everything 
. I'm all for the talks continuing in Istanbul, but we need to see some real commitment from both sides, not just a bunch of empty promises 
... it's heartbreaking to think about how much this affects everyday people.
. The presence of terrorist groups like the Pakistani Taliban is a huge issue, and I'm not sure who's really at fault here 
. The economic costs are already crippling, imagine if that was just the beginning 
. The talks in Istanbul might be a good start, but we need concrete actions from both countries soon 
. And what's with the lack of trust between the two countries - Kabul says Islamabad is violating its sovereignty, and now Pakistan's saying that Afghanistan needs to take action against the TTP... it's like they're speaking different languages 
It's all about finding common ground and working towards peace. Let's hope it happens! 
. And let's be real, traders on both sides are just trying to make some cash off the chaos 