Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has warned that failure to reach an agreement with Afghanistan during ongoing talks in Istanbul could escalate into “open war”.

“Afghanistan seeks peace, but if a deal is not reached, it will lead to open war,” Asif told Reuters. The remarks came as the second round of discussions between the two countries commenced in Istanbul, Turkey. The talks aim to address security concerns and establish a lasting ceasefire along the shared border following two weeks of intense clashes that left dozens dead, including civilians.

The confrontation erupted after explosions in central Kabul, which the Taliban government attributed to Pakistan, prompting retaliatory strikes along the border. An initial ceasefire quickly collapsed, with Kabul blaming Is

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