Pakistan Warning Afghanistan: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the peace talks held in Istanbul with Afghanistan have failed. He warned that the existing ceasefire on the border will remain in force only until the Afghan side does not attack.
Pakistan-Afghanista Dispute: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in clear words on Friday that the peace talks held in Istanbul with Afghanistan have failed. He said that the existing ceasefire on the border will remain in force only if there is no attack from Afghanistan. Asif told GEO News, ‘If the talks fail, then under our compulsion we will take strict steps against the Taliban. The situation may worsen and we have options. We will have the right to respond in the same manner as we were attacked.
Violence and increasing tension on Pakistan-Afghan border
The very next day of this conversation, there was firing on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in which at least 5 people died and 6 people were injured. This violence is part of the ongoing tension since last month, which was mainly triggered by Pakistan’s action against TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan). Pakistan says that TTP camps in Afghanistan are completely working against Pakistan. At the same time, the Afghan side is trying to portray TTP as just ‘Pakistani refugees’. Asif said, ‘How can refugees come secretly through the mountains with heavy weapons? This proves that the Afghan government is not completely serious.
Istanbul talks and fear of conflict
Earlier, the third round of peace talks was held in Istanbul. The first two rounds of meetings were held in Doha and Istanbul, but no concrete results could be reached. The main issue of the talks was that the Afghan government should take concrete steps against TTP. Asif said that Pakistan-Afghanistan relations cannot be normal unless the Taliban takes active steps to stop attacks on the border.
Historical controversy of Durand Line
Part of the border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Durand Line, which was determined by the British Empire between India and Afghanistan. This border divides traditional Pashtun areas into two parts and neither the Pashtuns of Afghanistan nor Pakistan have ever recognized it. Due to this historical and political complexity, situations of tension keep arising between the two countries.
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