Afghanistan-Pakistan Ceasefire Talks Continue Amid Rising Tensions and War Warnings

Kabul insists on safeguarding Afghanistan's territorial integrity. (File)

Afghanistan and Pakistan continued their third day of negotiations on Monday seeking to establish a lasting ceasefire, with Kabul emphasizing the importance of "dialogue and understanding" after Islamabad issued a warning that war could ensue if the talks fail.

Two weeks prior, Afghanistan initiated a border offensive following explosions in Kabul that Taliban authorities attributed to Pakistan, triggering intense clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides, including civilian deaths.

Pakistan responded with military strikes targeting armed groups operating from Afghan territory, which led to further violence and a brief 48-hour ceasefire that quickly collapsed.

A second truce emerged after discussions in Doha, facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, though the specific terms remain undefined.

The current round of talks in Istanbul, which commenced on Saturday, aims to develop mechanisms that will maintain the fragile truce and prevent renewed military conflict.

"The second phase of negotiations continues; we cannot predict the outcome and must await the conclusion of the meeting," Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on Monday.

"The only solution to resolve the recent issue with Pakistan is dialogue and understanding," he further stated.

"Further progress in the talks depends on the positive attitude of the Afghan Taliban," Pakistani security sources indicated on Sunday.

They claimed Taliban negotiators were displaying "stubbornness and a lack of seriousness."

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif cautioned on Saturday that failure to achieve an agreement could result in "open war."

"We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them," he declared.

Pakistan has demanded "verifiable action" against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it claims launches attacks from Afghan territory.

Kabul denies providing sanctuary to terrorists and emphasizes its commitment to protecting Afghanistan's territorial integrity.

Taliban negotiators have reportedly requested that Pakistan cease violating Afghan airspace and discontinue support for opposition groups.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, US President Donald Trump stated he could "solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis very quickly."