Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif issued a stark warning on Saturday, stating that failure to reach an agreement in ongoing peace talks with Afghanistan could lead to ‘open war.’ The talks, currently underway in Istanbul, aim to establish a long-term mechanism to enforce the Doha ceasefire, which was agreed upon after recent deadly border clashes. Asif noted that both sides have adhered to the truce for the past four to five days, expressing optimism that Afghanistan desires peace. However, he emphasized that Pakistan is prepared for military escalation if negotiations fail. The recent clashes erupted after Pakistan demanded that the Taliban curb militants allegedly operating from Afghan soil. Pakistan conducted airstrikes across the border, resulting in heavy exchanges of fire, numerous casualties, and the closure of key crossings. While Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring militants, the Taliban denies these allegations, asserting that Pakistan’s actions violate Afghan sovereignty.