- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 18 Oct 2025 04:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Neighbourhood Watch: This week, South Asia and its neighboring regions witnessed a wave of significant developments, from deadly attacks in Afghanistan and massive unrest in Pakistan. The tensions flared between the two neighbouring countries, which were once understood as “friendly” nations, and were engaged in deadly attacks this week. On Friday night, at least eight Afghanistan cricketers were killed in Pakistani airstrikes.
The attacks marked a significant development not only between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also India, amid the fact that Islamabad carried out airstrikes on the day the Taliban Foreign Minister landed in New Delhi after more than four years of their rule in Afghanistan.
In China, it imposed new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies, extending controls over the use of the elements critical for many high-tech and military products ahead of a meeting in about three weeks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Afghanistan
- The Taliban government in Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out two drone strikes in Kabul, which reportedly hit a market and a civilian home. There are civilian casualties.
- UN reports say at least 18 killed and over 360 wounded in clashes between Pakistan & Afghanistan since October 10.
- A 48-hour ceasefire was agreed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, though tensions remain high and the truce is fragile.
- However, Pakistan backstabbed and attacked again in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of at least eight cricketers.
- Taliban Foreign Minister reached India. On the other hand, New Delhi agreed to elevate its relations with Afghanistan.
Pakistan
- Following three defeats to India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s cricket board (PCB) is set to replace captain Salman Ali Agha with Shadab Khan for T20Is.
- Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests: They launched a march (“Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March”) from Lahore and Faisalabad toward Islamabad in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Clashes have occurred, and many arrests.
- A suicide attack near the Afghan border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13.
- The situation deteriorated between the two neighbours following repeated terrorist attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allegedly using the Afghan soil, including one in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Orakzai district recently, which claimed the lives of 11 military personnel, including a Lt Colonel and a Major.
China
Rare Earth Export Controls: China restricts rare earth exports in retaliation to US 100 per cent tariffs, disrupting global tech supply chains.
US Cyber Espionage Claims: Ex-US spymaster exposes major Chinese hacking of US infrastructure amid trade disputes.
Physicist Chen Ning Yang Dies: Nobel laureate (1957) passes at 103 in Beijing; tributes for parity violation work.
China Blames US for Trade Tensions: Accuses Washington of "double standards"; new port fees hike US import costs.
Dutch Chip Firm Probe: Netherlands seizes Chinese-owned Nexperia over EU tech security fears.
US Warns on Supply Chains: Officials urge diversification from China; US-listed Chinese stocks drop sharply.
Xi-Trump Summit Buzz: Export crackdown precedes planned meeting; markets volatile on retaliation risks.
Nepal
Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese agricultural student, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and killed in captivity in Gaza. His body was returned to Israel on Tuesday.
Scores killed as Nepalese villages swept away by heavy rainfall and landslides.
Army carries out rescues after Nepalese villages swept away by heavy rainfall and landslides.
(NOTE: This article is part of the series 'Neighbourhood Watch'. To read more articles in the series, click here)