Pakistan: ‘open war’ with Afghanistan. Missiles on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia

Today’s news: Beijing removes nine more military officers from the National People’s Congress weeks after the dismissal of General Zhang Youxia. The Philippines, the United States and Japan conduct drills in the South China Sea. Oman: “significant steps” in talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva. A school textbook banned in India for referring to corruption within the judiciary.

PAKISTAN – AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan has bombed Taliban government targets in Afghanistan’s main cities, with the Pakistani defense minister describing the conflict as an “open war.” Pakistani sources report air-to-surface missile strikes against Taliban offices and military positions in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, as well as ground clashes along the border. Relations between Kabul and Islamabad are under severe strain due to a longstanding dispute over Pakistan’s accusation that Afghanistan shelters militants who carry out cross-border attacks. The Taliban deny the charge, saying Pakistan’s security is an internal matter.

CHINA

China has removed 19 officials, including nine military officers, from the list of lawmakers ahead of next week’s annual political gathering — the “Two Sessions.” The removals were announced by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. No official reason was given; the move comes just weeks after Xi Jinping dismissed Zhang Youxia, his highest-ranking general. Xi has launched a series of anti-corruption campaigns, calling corruption “the greatest threat” to the Communist Party. However, critics argue that these campaigns are also used to eliminate rivals.

PHILIPPINES – JAPAN – UNITED STATES

The navies of the Philippines, the United States and Japan trained together this week in the South China Sea to strengthen cooperation among military allies. Since 2023, the Philippines has worked with several countries to assert its maritime rights and prerogatives in the South China Sea. China claims most of the resource-rich waterway, rejecting a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its historical claims over the area.

IRAN – UNITED STATES – OMAN

Iran and the United States made “significant progress” in yesterday’s talks in Switzerland, said Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, at the end of the latest round of negotiations aimed at averting war between the two countries. The Oman-mediated discussions follow threats by Donald Trump to strike Iran; the U.S. president had given 15 days to reach an agreement. On the table are Iran’s nuclear program and the militarization of the region. The talks will continue with a new meeting in Vienna next week.

INDIA

India’s Supreme Court has banned a school textbook after a chapter referred to corruption within the judiciary. The revised social sciences text was published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which oversees curricula and textbooks for millions of students. Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant had criticized the book; as a result, the NCERT issued an apology and withdrew it from distribution.

UN – UKRAINE

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution supporting peace in Ukraine with 107 votes in favor, 12 against and 51 abstentions. Those voting against were Russia, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Mali, Niger, Nicaragua and Sudan, while Central Asian countries abstained (Turkmenistan did not participate), along with the United States, China, India, South Africa, Armenia, Brazil, Qatar, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates.

KAZAKHSTAN – KYRGYZSTAN

A border checkpoint between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, in the Talas region, will become an international crossing open 24 hours a day, as announced by the head of the State Border Service, Abdikarim Alimbaev, before the Žogorku Keneš in Bishkek. The decision follows a protocol signed in August 2025 between the two governments and was deemed necessary to facilitate international transport and tourism.