His defense minister Pakistan stated that he believed that the Afghanistan wants peace, but failure to reach an agreement at talks in Istanbul will mean “open war”.
These statements by Pakistan come a few days after Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes.
The talks in Istanbul, which began today (October 25) and are expected to continue tomorrow, Sunday, are the latest effort by Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent a return to violence after the worst border clashes since the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021.
The talks are aimed at creating a mechanism to enforce a longer ceasefire agreed in Doha.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said there have been no incidents in the four to five days since it was agreed, and that both sides are abiding by the ceasefire.
“We have the option, if no agreement is reached, we have open war with them,” he said in televised remarks from Pakistan. “But I saw that they want peace.”
Clashes erupted earlier this month when Islamabad demanded the Taliban crack down on Islamists it says are attacking Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched airstrikes on the other side of the border and the two sides exchanged heavy fire, killing dozens and shutting down major border crossings that remain closed.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring militants who target Pakistani forces.
The Taliban deny the accusations and say Pakistan’s military operations violate Afghanistan’s sovereignty.