Pakistan defence minister warns of 'open war' with Afghanistan if peace talks fail

Oct 25, 2025

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif speaks during an interview with Reuters in Islamabad, Pakistan, October 20, 2025. REUTERS/Salahuddin — Salahuddin

KARACHI (Reuters) -Pakistan's defence minister said on Saturday that he believes Afghanistan wants peace, but warned that failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul would mean “open war.”

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

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