Pakistan, May 14 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Wednesday there would be an "open war" if Kabul did not stop militants from launching attacks on Pakistani territory, marking one of Islamabad's strongest public statements in recent weeks amid spiraling tensions between the neighbors.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated over the past year as Islamabad accuses the Taliban government in Kabul of sheltering militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, which Pakistan says has intensified attacks from bases inside Afghanistan..

Asif's remarks, delivered on the floor of the National Assembly, came days after a deadly assault on a police post in the northwestern city of Bannu killed...