Pakistan and Afghanistan held the second round of talks in Istanbul to establish a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb terrorist movements across the border. Islamabad, however, warned that war was still an option if talks failed to address its chief concern about terrorism.

Dozens of soldiers, civilians and terrorists were killed in clashes earlier this month, creating a war-like situation, but peace was restored temporarily on October 19 after the two sides held talks in Doha.

The Taliban government has, however, accused a powerful faction within Pakistan’s military of orchestrating a campaign of hostility and misinformation aimed at destabilising Afghanistan and diverting attention from Islamabad’s internal chaos.