Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that if the ongoing talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan being held in Istanbul failed, Pakistan is prepared for open conflict along the Afghan border.

Speaking to the media in Sialkot, Asif said the Pakistan Armed Forces were sacrificing their lives to protect the country’s borders, and it was due to these sacrifices that Pakistan’s frontiers remained secure.

“Our forces and police are fighting terrorists, and we mourn the loss of soldiers almost every other day,” he added.

On the ongoing negotiations, Asif said, “If the talks fail, Pakistan is ready for open conflict along the Afghan border. Pakistan has already fought a war with India, and India is now attempting a proxy war through Afghan territory.”

The defence minister noted that the negotiations were progressing and an outcome would be revealed soon.

“The Afghan delegation that participated in the Doha talks was trained in Pakistan. The Doha negotiations showed that the Afghan side wants peace. From now on, anyone coming to Pakistan will do so through official visas,” he said.

Second round of Pakistan-Afghan talks

The Foreign Office has said the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban began on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey, to advance the agreements reached during the Doha negotiations.

The Istanbul talks aim to further examine the points discussed previously in Doha.

Speaking at a weekly briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Doha negotiations had led to a ceasefire between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.

No major terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory against Pakistan have been reported since then, he added.

The spokesperson added that a document was signed during the Doha talks, and whether the Taliban formally call it an agreement or not, the outcome remained the same.

Due to the current security situation, Andrabi said that border crossings with Afghanistan have been temporarily closed, emphasising that the safety of ordinary citizens takes precedence over the transport of goods or trade.

“Pakistan has always acted sincerely toward Afghanistan, but the situation changed after terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil,” he said, stressing that Islamabad expected verifiable action from Afghanistan to prevent cross-border terrorism.

He also highlighted that threats from India were being considered seriously, and Pakistan was fully prepared to respond to any possible aggression in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, Andrabi said Pakistan continued to monitor regional developments, including violations by Israel and related incidents.

The Doha negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were widely regarded as successful, with the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirming that both sides had agreed to an immediate ceasefire.