Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that he believes Afghanistan desires peace, but failure to reach an agreement during the Istanbul talks would mean "open war."

Asif noted that no incidents had occurred in the four to five days since the ceasefire agreement, and both sides were adhering to the truce.

Speaking in a televised interview from Pakistan, he said, "We have the option—if no agreement is reached, we have open war with them. But I noticed that they want peace."

It is worth noting that clashes erupted earlier this month after Islamabad demanded that the Taliban restrain militants allegedly attacking Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.