Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply intensified after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Islamabad “would not hesitate to go to open war" if peace talks failed — a statement issued even as the Istanbul negotiations between the two countries were underway. The remarks were widely condemned as provocative and destabilising.

The subsequent collapse of the Istanbul-mediated peace talks marked a serious setback for regional diplomacy. The dialogue, facilitated by Turkey and Qatar, ended without any workable framework for de-escalation, as both sides accused each other of violating commitments. Pakistan claimed that Kabul had deviated from the central issue and failed to curb militant activity from its territory, while Afghanistan countered that Islamabad’s continued airstrikes and incursions had rendered any talks meaningless. The breakdown of negotiations has reignited fears of an “open war", underlining the deep mistrust that defines their relationship.

Moreover, Pakistan recently conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan, targeting multiple locations including Paktika province and Kabul, killing three Afghan cricketers along with several civilians, including women and children, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. These strikes occurred even as Islamabad and Kabul had agreed to extend the truce until the conclusion of the Doha talks aimed at preventing further escalation.

The ACB stated that the victims were targeted during a gathering in Urgun district after returning home from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital. Afghan cricket star Rashid Khan expressed deep grief, calling the attack “immoral and barbaric", and lamented the deaths of young athletes who dreamt of representing their country on the world stage. The airstrikes have further deepened public anger and resentment in Afghanistan — a nation already harbouring strong distrust toward Pakistan due to decades of interference and proxy manipulation.

These attacks follow a series of earlier strikes by Pakistan over the past months, which targeted areas such as Jalalabad, Khost, and Paktika, causing multiple civilian casualties and deepening Afghan resentment. The recent escalation between the two countries began in early October 2025, with airstrikes on Afghan territory starting around October 9, 2025, and retaliatory actions following shortly after. Eventually, both sides had agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey. Qatar and the UAE played key roles in mediating the process; however, the situation has once again deteriorated following the failure of the Istanbul talks.

Beijing’s Calculated Silence

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have deteriorated at a critical........

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