Overview

• Amir Khan Muttaqi held a second press conference in New Delhi that included women journalists and called their earlier exclusion a short‑notice, technical issue, as India’s foreign ministry said it did not organise the first event.
• New Delhi signalled it will upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to an embassy, deepening practical engagement despite not formally recognising the Taliban government.
• Heavy clashes erupted along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier, with both sides issuing conflicting casualty claims and reports of border crossings such as Torkham and Chaman being closed to traffic.
• Muttaqi said Kabul had paused military operations at the border following requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, warned that Afghanistan has “other options” if talks fail, and denied harbouring TTP militants.
• Islamabad summoned the Afghan ambassador to object to remarks by Muttaqi and to a joint India–Afghanistan statement that referenced Jammu and Kashmir as part of India.