Iran-Pakistan talks, India-China message mark a day of regional diplomacy

Newdelhi,UPDATED: Jun 23, 2026 20:44 IST

A series of developments across the region and beyond on Tuesday focused on diplomacy, politics and security, with leaders in Pakistan, China and Mongolia discussing bilateral ties and wider regional issues. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Pakistan's top leadership in Islamabad, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called it "imperative" for India and China to respect each other's "core interests".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks in Mongolia on expanding cooperation, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he hoped the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the US and Iran would become a "long-lasting agreement". Elsewhere, Britain marked 10 years since the Brexit referendum as it prepared for its seventh prime minister in a decade, Bangladesh saw arrests linked to Awami League protests, and developments were reported from New York and Washington involving India, Pakistan and US lawmakers.

In Islamabad, President Pezeshkian met Pakistan's top leaders and exchanged views on regional developments and peace initiatives involving the US. He also reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to stronger bilateral ties and regional peace.

In Beijing, Wang said it was "imperative" for India and China to respect each other's "core interests" and take concrete steps to implement the "important consensus" reached by the leaders of the two countries.

In Ulaanbaatar, Jaishankar met Mongolia's Chief Cabinet Secretary Battumur Enkhbayar. The two discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties, including new avenues in mining, energy, technology and human resources.

Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif said he was hopeful that the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the US and Iran would turn into a "long-lasting agreement".

In the UK, political turbulence linked to Brexit remained in focus 10 years after the referendum that took Britain out of the European Union. The country is now preparing for its seventh prime minister in a decade.

In Bangladesh, authorities said dozens of activists of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's now-disbanded Awami League were arrested overnight. The arrests came as activists held sporadic street marches to mark the party's 77th founding anniversary despite a nationwide security ban.

In New York, a bill seeking to ban horse carriages in the city was renamed in memory of an Indian teenager who died after suffering injuries in a carriage incident in Central Park. In Washington, two Republican senators pointed to the histories of Qatar and Pakistan of "harbouring terrorists" in the backdrop of US Vice President J D Vance's remarks expressing "love" for Islamabad.

Overall, the day's developments ranged from high-level diplomatic outreach in Pakistan, China and Mongolia to political and security-related events in the UK, Bangladesh and the US.

With PTI Inputs

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