ISTANBUL, 26 October (H.S.): Against a backdrop of escalating threats, Pakistan and Afghanistan commenced a second round of critical peace talks in Istanbul on Saturday, overshadowed by a stark warning of open war from Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif should the negotiations falter.

The high-stakes dialogue, jointly mediated by Qatar and Turkey, follows an initial round in Doha and aims to quell the rapidly deteriorating relations between the neighboring countries. The Afghan delegation is led by Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Mujib, while Pakistan is represented by senior security officials.

Defence Minister Asif, who led the first round, indicated that the outcome of these latest talks could be known by Sunday.Islamabad is reportedly pushing for concrete and verifiable commitments from Kabul to neutralize the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it accuses of using Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks.

To ensure compliance, Pakistan has proposed a third-party oversight structure, potentially co-chaired by Turkey and Qatar.The negotiations are taking place amidst a period of intense strain, marked by recent deadly clashes along the Durand Line.

Tensions were further inflamed by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to New Delhi in early October, which was met with hostility from Islamabad and followed by drone attacks in Kabul.Adding another layer of complexity is a burgeoning water dispute.

Following India’s decision to put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, Afghanistan has announced plans to construct dams on the Kunar River. The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has reportedly ordered the immediate commencement of construction, a move certain to create significant unease in downstream Pakistan.

The Kunar River, known as the Chitral River in Pakistan, originates in the Hindu Kush mountains and is a vital water source for both nations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar