Even as Afghanistan and Pakistan head to Istanbul for talks aimed at resolving border conflicts, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning to the Taliban, saying, “If talks fail, only war will happen.” The comment came during an interview with Pakistan’s Geo News and has been widely circulated on social media.
While threatening Afghanistan, Asif also expressed hope that the negotiations would help both sides “find a peaceful solution to the current tensions,” according to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
Final Round of Negotiations in Istanbul
The talks in Turkey are expected to be the final round after two previous rounds failed to yield any breakthrough. The focus is on resolving key disputes and implementing agreements that remain unfulfilled. Asif’s warning has heightened tensions between the two neighbours, underscoring the fragile nature of the peace process.
The second round, held in late October, lasted four days but ended without results following deadly border clashes and a temporary ceasefire that began on October 19. Asif confirmed on Wednesday that Pakistan’s representatives had departed for Istanbul, ANI reported, with Asim Malik, head of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, among the delegation.
Delegations and Stakes at Play
The Afghan team is led by Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of the General Directorate of Intelligence, and includes senior figures such as Rahmatullah Najib, Suhail Shaheen, Anas Haqqani, Qahar Balkhi, and Zakir Jalali, according to TOLO News. Political analyst Asadullah Nadeem told ANI, “It is possible that this round will be the final one, either to confirm or reject the framework of an agreement previously outlined between the delegations.”
Earlier, during the second round of talks on October 29, Asif had issued a stern warning, saying Pakistan could strike deep into Afghanistan and “push them back to the caves” if another militant attack occurred on Pakistani soil, according to Dawn.