The Turkish government urged on Friday Pakistan and Afghanistan to resume dialogue and return to the negotiating table in the face of a new escalation of tension between the two countries in recent hours, after the Islamabad government declared the state of “open war” on the Taliban and bombed several Afghan cities, including the capital, Kabul.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources quoted by agencies, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a round of telephone conversations with his regional counterparts in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region to address the tense and complex situation between Islamabad and Kabul, underlining Ankara’s readiness to facilitate a meeting between the parties and to open the way for negotiation and a peaceful solution to the conflict.
According to these sources, Fidan reportedly held intensive telephone contacts on 27 February, including talks with the Afghan interim foreign minister, Emirhan Muttaki, and the Pakistani foreign minister, Mohammed Ishaq Dar. The Turkish foreign minister also spoke separately with Qatar‘s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Saudi Arabia‘s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, to discuss the latest developments.
Pakistan declares the state of “open war” against Taliban government
Pakistan on Friday bombed several cities in Afghanistan, including Kabul, as its defence minister announced that the two neighbouring countries are at “open war” after months of clashes and accusations, after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops last night in what was seen as a Taliban response to earlier aerial bombardments by Islamabad forces.
The complex relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries that share a common border almost 2,700 kilometres long, have deteriorated steadily in recent months, with most land crossings now closed since bloody border clashes in October that left more than 70 people dead on both sides.
Islamabad accuses the Kabul government of failing to act against armed insurgent groups that cross the border and carry out attacks in Pakistani territory, which the Afghan authorities deny. Following a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October, a negotiation process was initiated but has so far failed to end bilateral tensions and lead to a lasting agreement.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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