Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif issues stern warning of 'open war' to Afghanistan amid Istanbul peace talks

New Delhi: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday issued a dire warning to Afghanistan, stating that if the ongoing discussions in Istanbul fail to reach an agreement, it would lead to an “open war.” This comes just days after both countries agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes.

The discussions, which began on Saturday, are expected to continue until Sunday. They mark the latest attempt by both nations to prevent further bloodshed, which could resume if a peace agreement is not reached.

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The first round of discussions took place in Doha on October 19. The dialogue, facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, concluded with both sides agreeing to meet again in Istanbul on October 25 to continue talks aimed at addressing mutual security concerns.

Khawaja Muhammad 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.”

The tensions began when violence erupted on October 11 at multiple fronts along the 2,600 km (1,600-mile) border, after Islamabad allegedly carried out strikes in Kabul and the southeastern province of Paktika against what it said were armed groups linked to attacks inside Pakistan. This was followed by multiple retaliatory incidents.

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Meanwhile, the Taliban have reportedly ordered restrictions on Islamabad’s access to the Kunar River “as soon as possible.” The river is an important source of irrigation and hydroelectric power, particularly for the remote Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, which has been the epicentre of cross-border violence.

If the Afghans restrict the river’s flow, it would deal a severe blow to Islamabad. The restriction could prove disastrous, cutting off water supplies for farms and communities already strained by India’s reduced water flow.