A high-level dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan is set to resume today in Turkey. This vital conversation unfolds against the backdrop of growing tensions that have been escalating for weeks. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has sternly warned that failure in these talks could lead to warfare.
In response to a journalist's question, Asif stated, 'Should the discussions collapse, the situation will deteriorate further. We have options available to us. As we are being targeted, we are equally capable of retaliating in kind.' When probed if this implied war, Asif replied affirmatively, 'Yes... war is the only outcome.'
Military Overrides the Government
The recent altercations between the two nations have not led to any concrete outcomes from peace talks. Yet, two significant insights have emerged from these closed-door meetings. First, the U.S. has allegedly used Pakistan's airspace for drone strikes inside Afghanistan, and Islamabad has been entirely powerless to prevent this.
Second, Afghan Taliban officials assert that Pakistan's military, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir, is sidelining Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government and escalating tensions with Kabul.
Questions Arise Over Meeting with Trump
There have been reports suggesting both Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir attended a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. This raised concerns about why the head of a nation's military was meeting the President alongside its civilian government leaders.
Two Countries on the Warpath
The Afghan Taliban's claims and the Pakistani military's role are being scrutinized at a time when President Trump is looking to bring the strategically crucial Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan under his control.
Given this tense environment, today's discussions in Turkey are deemed highly critical. As Pakistan’s minister himself emphasized, if the talks fail, 'the next step is only war.'
