Afghanistan, Oct. 25 -- Pakistan warned it could pursue "open war" against Taliban if ongoing Istanbul negotiations fail, threatening renewed border conflict after recent deadly clashes and closures.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad may resort to "open war" against Taliban if ongoing talks in Istanbul fail to produce results. His remarks mark a sharp escalation as both sides attempt to maintain a recently negotiated ceasefire.
Delegations from Islamabad and Kabul are meeting in Turkey for a second round of discussions focused on implementing the Doha understanding and preventing further cross-border violence. The meetings follow deadly clashes in recent weeks that prompted major border closures.
Asif, who ...