Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday mentioned that whereas Afghanistan seems to need peace, failure to achieve a long-lasting settlement throughout ongoing talks in Istanbul may result in “open battle”. The discussions, which started on Saturday and are anticipated to proceed into Sunday, comply with lethal border clashes earlier this month, marking the newest effort by each side to forestall a relapse into violence because the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Kabul.
As quoted by information company Reuters, Asif mentioned in televised remarks, “We've the choice, if no settlement takes place, now we have an open battle with them. However I noticed that they need peace.” The clashes erupted after Islamabad demanded the Taliban curb militants it says have been attacking Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Pakistan responded with cross-border airstrikes, and each side exchanged heavy hearth, killing dozens and prompting the closure of key crossings, which stay shut.The talks in Istanbul purpose to plot a mechanism to implement a longer-term Doha ceasefire. “There have been no incidents within the 4 to 5 days because it was agreed, and each side have been complying with the truce,” Asif mentioned, underlining the fragile state of affairs alongside the two,640-km Durand Line border.Earlier, Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to an instantaneous ceasefire after days of lethal clashes, in line with Qatar's overseas ministry, which mentioned each side additionally agreed to determine mechanisms to make sure lasting peace and stability. The violence, which started on October 11, adopted Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika concentrating on teams linked to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).Amid the tensions, the Taliban authorities has ordered building of a dam on the Kunar River to restrict Pakistan's water provide, in line with RT, escalating non-military stress on Islamabad and including one other layer to the strained bilateral relations.
