His defense minister Pakistan expressed on Saturday the belief that the Afghanistan wants peace but warned that failure to reach a deal during talks in Istanbul would mean “open war”, days after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire following bloody border clashes.
As noted by the Reuters agency, the talks in Istanbul, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday, are the latest attempt by Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent a recurrence of violence after the worst border clashes since the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021.
The talks are aimed at establishing a mechanism to enforce the ceasefire on a long-term basis.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that there have been no incidents of ceasefire violations during the four to five days since the agreement and that both sides are observing the ceasefire.
“We have the option, if no deal is reached, to go to open war against them,” he said in an interview in Pakistan. “But I saw that they want peace.”
Clashes erupted earlier this month after Islamabad demanded the Taliban crack down on militants it claims are attacking Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched airstrikes across the border and the two sides exchanged fire, killing dozens of people and shutting down major border crossings, which remain closed.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring militants who target Pakistani forces. The Taliban reject the charge and claim that Pakistan’s military operations are violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
