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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday cautioned that ongoing negotiations with Afghanistan in Istanbul must produce a workable security arrangement, saying a breakdown in talks would leave both sides facing the prospect of direct conflict. &ldquo;We have the option; if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,&rdquo; Asif said during a press talk in the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot. However, he added that the Afghan side appeared willing to pursue stability. &ldquo;I saw that they want peace.&rdquo; His comments come days after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire in Doha to halt some of the most intense border clashes since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul in 2021. Asif noted that the situation along the frontier had remained calm for the past several days. &ldquo;There have been no incidents in four to five days, and both sides are abiding by the truce,&rdquo; he said. Delegations from both countries began meeting in Istanbul on Saturday in what officials described as a continuation of the Doha dialogue. The talks are expected to focus on developing a verifiable mechanism to prevent cross-border attacks and maintain stability. Earlier this month, coordinated attacks were carried out at multiple locations near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, prompting Pakistan to undertake aerial strikes on what authorities identified as militant hideouts across the frontier. The exchange of fire that followed resulted in casualties on both sides and led to the temporary closure of several key crossing points, which remain shut as talks continue. Islamabad maintains that armed fighters staging attacks inside Pakistan continue to find refuge in Afghanistan. The Istanbul talks aim to establish an enforcement channel to ensure that the ceasefire does not collapse under renewed hostilities. Negotiations were expected to continue into Sunday.

Security

Pakistan’s Defense Minister warned that Istanbul talks with Afghanistan must yield a security arrangement, or both nations risk direct conflict. Recent ceasefire has calmed border clashes, with discussions focused on preventing cross-border attacks and ensuring stability

Pakistan warns of ‘open conflict’ if Istanbul talks with Afghanistan fail

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Thursday that the government plans to send a delegation to Afghanistan, citing &ldquo;unbearable&rdquo; security concerns following a series of deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces. Speaking at the National Assembly, Asif called for unity among federal and provincial governments, urging them to stand firmly behind the armed forces in the fight against terrorism. &ldquo;Our political community must acknowledge this,&rdquo; Asif said. &nbsp;&ldquo;Those of us who govern, whether federally or provincially, must on this issue speak with one voice.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Stand with our armed forces, with the martyrs, and with the veterans.&rdquo; His remarks came a day after 18 security personnel were martyred in two separate attacks in northwestern Pakistan. The defense minister warned that those providing sanctuaries to militants, whether &ldquo;on this side or Afghan soil,&rdquo; will be held accountable. &ldquo;No one should have any doubt: if four, five, ten or fifteen people from a sanctuary attack one of our military convoys, the response will be given,&rdquo; he said, adding that collateral damage would be inevitable. &ldquo;Collateral damage may occur, and everyone will have to bear it. Those sanctuary villages will also pay the price; those who shelter militants will pay the price,&rdquo; Asif emphasized. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns in regional and international forums about safe havens for militant groups across its western border. At the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s stance, calling on the Afghan interim authorities to take &ldquo;effective action&rdquo; against groups operating from their territory and to ensure Afghan soil is not used for terrorism. A UN Security Council (UNSC) monitoring report released in July also stated that the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continues to train and operate from camps inside Afghanistan. Over the past ten months, Pakistan has lost approximately 621 security personnel in its ongoing war against terrorism, while around 880 militants have been killed in Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) conducted nationwide. The proposed delegation&rsquo;s visit to Kabul underscores Pakistan&rsquo;s urgent call for regional cooperation to tackle cross-border terrorism and hold militant sanctuaries accountable, a step aimed at restoring stability and protecting lives on both sides of the border.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says Islamabad plans to send a delegation to Kabul amid worsening security concerns, urging national unity and warns militant sanctuaries, whether in Pakistan or Afghanistan, will be targeted following recent deadly attacks on security forces


Articles tagged with "Khwaja Asif"

Pakistan warns of ‘open conflict’ if Istanbul talks with Afghanistan fail

Pakistan to send delegation to Afghanistan, warns militant sanctuaries ‘unbearable’