Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:48pm on 25 Oct 2025,Saturday International
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warned that failure to reach an agreement with Afghanistan during Istanbul talks could lead to "open war." The second round of negotiations began Saturday in Turkey, addressing security concerns and establishing a lasting ceasefire after two weeks of deadly border clashes. The confrontation, killing dozens including civilians, erupted following Kabul explosions attributed to Pakistan, prompting Taliban retaliatory strikes. An initial ceasefire collapsed within days, with Kabul blaming Islamabad. A second truce, brokered by Qatar and Turkey, appears stable. Afghanistan's delegation, led by deputy interior minister Haji Najib, seeks territorial integrity protection, while Pakistan demands addressing "terrorism emanating from Afghan soil," according to foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi.
