‘Open war’ looms if Pak-Afghan talks fail: defence minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday he believes Afghanistan wants peace but that failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul would mean “open war,” days after both sides agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes, Reuters reported.

The talks in Istanbul, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue into Sunday, mark the latest attempt by Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent a relapse into violence after the worst border fighting since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. The talks are meant to devise a mechanism to enforce the Doha ceasefire longer term.

Khawaja Asif said there had been no incidents in the four to five days since it was agreed, and both sides were complying with the truce. “We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” he said in televised remarks from Pakistan. “But I saw that they want peace.” Speaking to media representatives in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said: “Our forces and police are sacrificing their lives; we and you sleep in peace because your protectors are awake.”

According to Geo News, he said Pakistan hosted Afghans for 40 years. “Those we were talking to in Doha all grew up in Pakistan. It is incomprehensible why Afghanistan has such an attitude towards us despite such hospitality. Afghanistan is acting as India’s proxy against us.” The defence minister said Afghan refugees have taken over livelihoods and businesses [in Pakistan]. “We should only have one agenda: to live with our neighbour with brotherhood.”

According to sources, negotiations between the delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan are being held at a local hotel in Istanbul, hosted by senior officials from Turkiye. Sources reported that a two-member delegation is participating in the talks on behalf of Pakistan, while Afghanistan’s delegation is being led by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Majeed. Sources stated that, in addition, the acting head of the Afghan embassy in Qatar, the brother of the Afghan Interior Minister, Anas Haqqani, Noor Ahmad Noor, a Defence Ministry official Noor Rahman Nasrat, and a spokesperson for the Afghan government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also participating in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, interacting with teachers and students of various universities and religious seminaries in Mardan, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has reaffirmed that Pakistan Army and people will remain steadfast against any aggression by the enemy.

During the session, the ISPR DG discussed various important issues, including the Marka-e-Haq, recent Pak-Afghan tensions and the security situation. According to Sabah news agency, he said Pakistan has taken effective steps against terrorism and terrorists. Students and teachers from Abdul Wali Khan University, Women University, University of Engineering and Technology and religious seminaries participated in the session.