Pakistan has taken a strong stance against cross border terrorism during high-level peace talks with Afghanistan in Istanbul. Officials warned that if no agreement is reached, tensions could escalate into an “open war,” according to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The dialogue, hosted by Türkiye, is the second round of discussions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government. Both sides are addressing threats from militant groups, including Fitna al Khwarij, and working on improving border cooperation, intelligence sharing, and developing a joint strategy to ensure regional peace.
The Pakistani delegation included seven officials from the Foreign Ministry and security agencies, while the Afghan side consisted of six representatives. Although the main session has ended, talks are expected to continue for the next two days to finalise a mutual plan.
Officials said the goal is to create a shared mechanism to control cross-border terrorism, reduce militant activities, and avoid further military clashes. The talks are seen as crucial after recent deadly skirmishes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Afghanistan appears to want peace, but warned that failure to reach an agreement could leave no option but “open war.” He added that both countries have followed the ceasefire agreed upon a few days earlier after intense border fighting.
The Istanbul meetings come shortly after both countries agreed on an immediate ceasefire in Doha, following the worst border violence since the Taliban took control in Kabul in 2021. The ceasefire was confirmed by Khawaja Asif on social media, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in Istanbul on October 25 to discuss detailed solutions.
