Pakistan Warns of ‘Open War’ if Peace Talks with Afghanistan Fail

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has issued a grave warning, stating that Islamabad may be forced into an “open war” with Afghanistan if ongoing peace talks in Turkey fail to produce concrete results. The statement marks one of the strongest signals yet of Pakistan’s growing frustration over cross-border militancy and repeated attacks allegedly launched from Afghan soil.

Speaking to reporters, Asif emphasized that Pakistan had exercised restraint despite escalating violence along the shared border. “We have been patient, but our tolerance has limits. If diplomatic efforts fail, we will have no choice but to defend ourselves in the same manner,” he warned.

The high-stakes dialogue in Istanbul aims to de-escalate tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, with both sides accusing each other of undermining border stability. Pakistan claims that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operates freely from Afghan territory with the tacit support of the Taliban-led government. Kabul, however, rejects the accusations, asserting that Pakistan’s cross-border strikes violate Afghan sovereignty.

The warning comes after several deadly clashes and airstrikes along the Durand Line in recent months. Pakistan’s military has intensified operations following a surge in terror attacks within its territory, which Islamabad blames on militants regrouping in Afghanistan.

Diplomatic sources say Turkey and Qatar are mediating to restore calm and encourage intelligence-sharing mechanisms to address Pakistan’s security concerns. However, analysts caution that failure of these talks could trigger another cycle of violence, displacing civilians and further straining already fragile regional ties.

For now, all eyes are on the Istanbul talks – seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a potential military confrontation between the two uneasy neighbours. A breakdown in diplomacy could not only destabilize Pakistan and Afghanistan but also ripple across South Asia, affecting trade, border management, and humanitarian conditions.