Pakistan Minister Threatens "Open War" with Afghanistan as Peace Talks Resume in Istanbul

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Istanbul:

Pakistan and Afghanistan commenced their second round of peace negotiations in Istanbul on Saturday, while Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reportedly issued a stern warning that "open war" could ensue if diplomatic efforts fail.

The initial round of Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue, jointly mediated by Qatar and Turkey, was held in Doha on October 18-19.

The Afghan delegation is headed by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib and includes Anas Haqqani, brother of Afghan Interior Minister Noor Ahmad Noor. Pakistan has sent a two-member delegation consisting of security officials to represent its interests.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who led Pakistan's delegation in the first round, reportedly stated in Sialkot that results from this latest round of talks would likely be announced by Sunday.

According to Pakistan's Daily Times, "He said that if the dialogue fails, Pakistan may have no choice but to engage in open conflict with Afghanistan. However, he added that both sides appear to be seeking peace."

Pakistani media reported that Islamabad is pushing to establish a "third-party oversight structure," potentially co-chaired by Turkey and Qatar, to verify progress and address compliance issues.

Dawn, Pakistan's leading daily newspaper, reported: "At the talks today, Pakistan is expected to seek concrete and verifiable commitments from the Afghan side to eliminate the threat of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from its territory, which Pakistan says uses Afghan soil to launch attacks across the border."

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have deteriorated significantly, with numerous clashes occurring along the Durand Line in recent weeks.

Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's week-long visit to New Delhi beginning October 9 was perceived with considerable hostility by the Pakistani establishment. On the very first day of Muttaqi's visit to India, Kabul experienced drone attacks.

Months after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty in response to Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, Afghanistan has announced plans to construct dams on the Kunar River "as soon as possible," a move likely to create significant tension in Islamabad.

Muhajer Farahi, Taliban's Deputy Information Minister, posted on X that Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has directed the Ministry of Water and Energy to begin construction of dams on the Kunar River immediately, instructing them to contract with domestic companies rather than waiting for foreign entities.

This development follows a recently brokered ceasefire between the two nations after days of hostilities.

The Chitral River, referred to as the Kunar River in Afghanistan, is a 480-kilometer waterway flowing through northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.

It originates from the Chiantar glacier at the border between Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral in Pakistan.

The river enters Afghanistan at Arandu, where it is known as the Kunar River, eventually merging with the Kabul River in Afghanistan's Nangahar Province. The river system is primarily fed by melting glaciers and snow from the Hindu Kush mountain range.