Pakistan Issues Stark Warning as Talks With Afghanistan Resume: “If Truce Fails, Only War”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to meet in Turkey today for another round of peace discussions, a dialogue that may shape the future of a border increasingly fraught with mistrust. Hours before the meeting, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered a blunt warning: if the talks collapse again, the situation could escalate into open conflict.

His remarks underscore the severity of the moment. Speaking to Geo TV, Asif said Pakistan had “options on the table” should Afghanistan fail to commit to curbing activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of launching cross-border attacks from Afghan territory. “If the negotiations fail, the situation will deteriorate further. Considering how we are being targeted, we may respond in the same manner,” he stated.

This round of talks is the third attempt in just over two weeks. Earlier meetings in Doha and Istanbul ended without progress, despite both sides agreeing to maintain a tenuous ceasefire following skirmishes along the border earlier this month. Turkish mediation has been central to keeping the channels open, but trust remains in short supply.

Pakistan has maintained that its core demand has not changed: verifiable action against TTP networks operating from inside Afghanistan. At a recent weekly briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed today’s meeting and expressed cautious optimism. The spokesperson reiterated that Islamabad will participate in the dialogue but stressed that peace will depend on Kabul’s willingness to prevent armed groups from exploiting its territory.

“Pakistan has engaged with the Taliban regime without compromising on its position that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorism,” the spokesperson said, adding that the country expects “concrete and verifiable action” this time.

On the Afghan side, officials have pushed back against accusations of sheltering TTP members, arguing that many fighters crossing the border are actually “Pakistani refugees.” Asif dismissed the claim sharply, questioning how refugees could return “carrying heavy weapons and sneaking through mountain routes.” He suggested that such arguments only reveal Afghanistan’s unwillingness to acknowledge the scale of the problem.

Despite both countries agreeing to maintain the ceasefire that followed the recent clashes, officials in Islamabad privately admit that mistrust is deepening. Pakistan believes certain elements within the Taliban administration continue to support or tolerate TTP militants, making genuine cooperation difficult.

As the two delegations gather in Turkey, the stakes could not be higher. For Pakistan, the talks represent a final attempt to stabilise the border through diplomacy. For Afghanistan, they are a test of its ability to assert control and reassure a sceptical neighbour. Whether today’s dialogue brings relief or further deterioration will determine the next phase of a volatile relationship that has long shaped regional security.