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New Delhi: The armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan is showing no signs of slowing down. In a latest development, clashes near the Afghanistan border have killed five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants.
The information was revealed by the Pakistani military on Sunday. Notably, it occurred even as delegations from both countries met in Istanbul to diffuse the tension.
As per the claims of the Pakistani military, militants from Afghanistan tried to cross the border on Friday and Saturday and enter Pakistan’s Kurram and North Waziristan districts. According to news agency Reuters, the media wing of the Pakistan military has said the incident has raised doubts about the Afghanistan government's intentions regarding "addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil.”
According to Reuters, Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif warned on Saturday that "failure to reach an agreement in Istanbul would mean open war." Notably, officials from both nations are meeting in Istanbul to maintain the stability outlined during the Doha talks.
Asif also mentioned that there had been no incidents in the past four to five days since the ceasefire was agreed upon, and that both sides had been 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 see that they want peace.”
In the recent armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the border regions, dozens, including civilians, have been killed. Earlier, explosions took place in central Kabul with the Taliban alleging Pakistan for the violence. Last Sunday in Doha, both sides eventually reached an agreement on a truce.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that he could “quickly” resolve the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict. He also said that his administration had successfully ended “eight wars in eight months.” Trump said, “We’re averaging one a month. There is only one left, although I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But I’ll get that solved very quickly. I know them both. And the Pakistan Field Marshal and the Prime Minister are great people.”
