Pakistan strikes border camps as Xi readies Washington visit
Developments across the region on Monday were led by security, diplomacy and domestic politics in Pakistan, alongside major announcements from China, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UK. Pakistan said it had carried out airstrikes on terrorist camps and hideouts in the border region with Afghanistan, while also stepping up pressure on former prime minister Imran Khan's party ahead of a planned protest in Islamabad.
At the same time, Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders amid regional tensions. China announced that President Xi Jinping will visit Washington from September 23 to 25 for talks with US President Donald Trump, even as officials from both sides held what state media described as "candid, in-depth and constructive" discussions on tariffs and AI issues. Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left for New York to attend the UN General Assembly, Nepal said it was discussing the resettlement of Bhotekoshi flood victims, and former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak sparked debate with remarks on race and nationality.
Pakistan said its security forces carried out airstrikes on terrorist camps and hideouts in the border region with Afghanistan, killing 28 terrorists, including multiple suicide bombers. Kabul, however, said three civilians were killed in its territory.
In another development involving Pakistan, Naqvi landed in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders and officials. The visit comes as Islamabad seeks to revive diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the US amid the continuing standoff.
Pakistan police also arrested two more sisters of Imran Khan for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. The arrests came ahead of a planned long march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party to demand Khan's release from jail.
Naqvi separately warned Khan's party against holding its planned protest in Islamabad on September 27. He said street agitation would lead the party to a "dead-end".
In China, the government said Xi will visit Washington from September 23 to 25 for summit talks with Trump. It will be their second meeting in four months, and Beijing described the visit as a "milestone of historic significance".
Ahead of the Xi-Trump meeting, top US and Chinese officials held talks on economic and trade issues, including AI. Official media said the discussions were "candid, in-depth and constructive".
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left for New York on a five-day visit during which he will address the UN General Assembly, attend high-level UN programmes and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings. In Nepal, Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to leave for the US on Tuesday to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, leading a high-level delegation.
Nepal's government also said it is holding discussions with local authorities on resettling Bhotekoshi flood victims in safe places, as most of them cannot be settled in their original locations that were devastated by the floods.
China's ruling Communist Party, meanwhile, expelled two senior military officials, including General Zhang Youxia, described as the highest-ranking People's Liberation Army official, from the party and the military for serious discipline and law violations. In the UK, former prime minister Rishi Sunak triggered a debate on race and ethnicity after cautioning against equating skin colour with nationality and highlighting his own dual English and Hindu identity.
Overall, Monday's developments ranged from cross-border security action and diplomatic outreach to preparations for the UN General Assembly, political confrontation in Pakistan, and significant political signals from China and the UK.
