Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, delivered a stark warning on Saturday, October 25, 2025, emphasizing that a failure to reach an agreement during the crucial Istanbul peace talks could lead to ‘open war’ with Afghanistan. His comments come just days after both nations agreed to a ceasefire following a series of deadly border clashes.
The peace negotiations, which commenced in Istanbul on Saturday and are scheduled to conclude on Sunday, represent the latest diplomatic effort to avert a resurgence of violence. These talks are particularly vital as they aim to establish a long-term mechanism for upholding the Doha ceasefire, a truce agreed upon after the most severe border fighting witnessed since the Taliban’s resurgence in Kabul in 2021.
Asif noted a positive development, confirming that there had been no hostile incidents in the four to five days since the ceasefire was mutually accepted, indicating compliance from both sides. However, he underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, ‘We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them.’ He added a glimmer of hope, remarking, ‘But I saw that they want peace.’
The recent escalation in hostilities began earlier this month after Islamabad demanded that the Taliban-led Afghan government take decisive action against militants allegedly operating from sanctuaries within Afghanistan and targeting Pakistani forces. In response to these perceived threats, Pakistan initiated airstrikes across the border, leading to significant exchanges of fire that claimed dozens of lives and resulted in the closure of vital border crossings, which largely remain shut.
Pakistan consistently accuses Kabul of providing refuge to militants who pose a threat to its security forces. Conversely, the Taliban vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that Pakistan’s military operations constitute a clear violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.