Afghanistan

Iran opens trade center, permanent exhibition in Kabul – Tehran Times

Iran’s trade center and permanent exhibition of Iranian products was inaugurated in Kabul on Sunday, the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan announced. In a tweet, the embassy mentioned the purpose of opening this center is to take a fundamental step in the development of trade relations between the two countries of Iran and Afghanistan. The embassy added that this center will be a place for Afghan businessmen to familiarize themselves with Iranian products. The development of exports to Afghanistan with the establishment of a permanent trade center for Iranian goods in Kabul is the beginning of a new chapter in the economic relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

Thousands of women in Afghanistan likely to be punished for adultery after Taliban invalidates divorces – Mint

The oppression of women under the Taliban regime of Afghanistan continues as now thousands face the threat of prosecution for adultery after the government declared their divorces as invalid, which automatically invalidates their second marriage. The declaration is another nail in the coffin of women’s rights in Afghanistan after the regime snatched away their employment and education. Click here to read…

Doha agreement empowered Taliban, weakened US power in Afghanistan: Ned Price – Samaa English News

The United States on Wednesday stated that the Doha agreement empowered Afghan Taliban but weakened its partner in the Afghan government. This remark was made by State Department Spokesperson Ned Price during the regular briefing while expressing his views on the three-year anniversary of the Doha agreement between America and the Afghan Taliban. Click here to read…

Six TTP terrorists including prominent commander killed in Afghanistan IED blast – Samaa English News

At least six terrorists of Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) including an important commander were killed and 15 others were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Khost province of Afghanistan. The attack comes a week after a senior Pakistani delegation had visited Afghanistan’s capital for talks with Taliban officials. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Rupee and Taka to replace Dollar as currency of exchange between India, Bangladesh – Wion

India and Bangladesh may soon do away with dollar as the currency of exchange between two two South Asian neighbours. The development is expected to reduce the cost of trade as well as losses due to Rupee-Dollar and Taka-Dollar differences. The latest bilateral deliberations between India and Bangladesh took place on the sidelines of the G20 finance chiefs meeting held in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru on February 24-25, Bangladesh’s Daily Star newspaper reported. Click here to read…

India proposes Bangladesh to produce defence equipment jointly – New Age

Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma on Sunday proposed Bangladesh to develop and produce of defence equipment jointly while inviting Bangladesh Armed forces to benefit from India’s cost-effective and high quality military gears. The envoy also expressed India’s readiness to partner with Bangladesh in its defence modernization through the US$ 500 million Defence Line of Credit extended by New Delhi to Dhaka earlier. Click here to read…

Fire destroys homes Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh – Reuters

A big fire at a camp for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh destroyed homes and sent thick black clouds of smoke through the area on Sunday before being brought under control. The blaze erupted at Camp 11 in Cox’s Bazar, a southeastern border district where more than a million Rohingya refugees live. Most of the refugees fled a military-led crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, and the fire left some of them homeless again. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Reduce one minister immediately: Opposition Party – Kuensel

“One minister should be reduced immediately,” says the opposition party, Druk Phunsum Tshogpa. The party’s press release, which was issued yesterday, accused the government of being irresponsible by showing a blatant disregard for the law and taking an unduly long time to take the decision. “This is not only against the compelling objective and earnest spirit of the civil reform and Civil Service Reform Act 2022 but also in contravention to the Constitution.” Click here to read…

Solar fence along India-Bhutan border mitigates human-elephant conflict – Money Control

An 18-km-long solar fence erected along the India-Bhutan border helps mitigate human-elephant conflict, protecting over 10,000 people residing in 11 villages in Assam’s Baksa district by keeping away wild pachyderms coming from the Himalayan kingdom. The barrier, erected on the Indian bank of River Bornadi, which marks the international border, has led to a dip in incidents of wild pachyderms straying into villages and a reduction in deaths due to man-elephant conflict. Click here to read…

Bhutan to benefit from India becoming International Aviation Hub – The Print

India is expected to become a major international aviation hub, and it will also benefit Bhutan directly by being its immediate neighbour as India believes in the ‘Neighbourhood first policy’, the Bhutan Live Reported. In order to renovate the Air India fleet and overcome the losses caused due to the pandemic, the Tata Group will buy 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. With the Boeing order estimated at USD 34 billion and the Airbus deal at around USD 35 billion, the entire deal is the largest in commercial aviation history. Click here to read…

EAM Jaishankar holds bilateral meeting with Foreign Ministers of Bhutan, Croatia in Delhi – The Times of India

Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Bhutan Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji on March 04 in Delhi. EAM Jaishankar also met Croatia Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman. EAM held bilateral talks with both ministers on the sidelines of the G20 meeting. Click here to read…

New irrigation channel construction expected to address water crisis in Bhutan’s Jangphutse: Report – ANI

A new irrigation channel which is under construction is expected to solve the water woes of people in Bhutan’s Trashi Yangtse, The Bhutan Live reported. As paddy cultivation season approaches, it is normally a time of struggle for Jangphutse farmers under Toedtsho Gewog in Trashi Yangtse. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid speaks to WION on India’s G20 Presidency – WIO News

Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid spoke to WION’s Diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal on a range of issues. When asked how he sees India’s G20 presidency with reference to giving a voice to the Global South, Shahid said that he is glad that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had kept it inclusive and is gunning to champion every nation’s cause. He said that he expects India to take up every nation’s cause in the south, especially as the world emerges from the pandemic. Click here to read…

‘Small Countries Need UN Charter’s Protection’: Maldives Foreign Min on Ukraine Vote – the Wire

Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid said that the Indian Ocean nation’s consistent vote in favour of United Nations resolutions criticising Russia’s military action in Ukraine reflects the view among small countries that a functional international system based on the UN charter and principles shields them from geopolitical vagaries. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar challenge – The Statesman

After Indonesia was handed over the Asean chair in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 13 November 2022, the immediate expectation of the rest of the grouping’s members pertained to the measures Indonesian President Joko Widoko would take to resolve the political crisis in Myanmar. When Indonesia held the Asean chair last, it had expertly pulled its weight and rallied its Asean colleagues to muster up a credible response to the Myanmar crisis. Click here to read…

US Adds Three Myanmar Organizations to Trade Blacklist – The Irrawaddy

The United States on Thursday added three organizations in Myanmar to its trade blacklist for aiding the junta, along with firms from Russia and China. The US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued 37 sanctions, including against 28 organizations from China, four from Pakistan, three from Myanmar and one each from Russia, Belarus and Taiwan to its export blacklist. Click here to read…

United Nations rights office calls for action to end Myanmar ‘catastrophe’ – The Star

The UN human rights office has strongly condemned violence carried out by the military dictatorship in Myanmar against opponents of the regime. “Two years after the military launched a coup, the generals have embarked on a scorched earth policy in an attempt to stamp out opposition,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said in Geneva on Friday. “Urgent, concrete action is needed to end this festering catastrophe.” Click here to read…

Nepal

Prachanda in trouble as Nepal’s top court admits petitions for role during armed conflict – Indian Narrative

Nepal’s Supreme Court has ordered the court administration to register two writ petitions against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, also the Maoist party chief, for declaring that he would take the responsibility of 5000 of the total 17,000 deaths during the country’s armed conflict (1996-2006). Responding to a case filed by 20 individuals mostly victims of the conflict era, a division bench of the Supreme Court Justices Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Prasad Phuyal on Friday ordered the court administration to register the petitions filed against Prachanda. Click here to read…

India needs to engage with Nepal despite political uncertainty – Deccan Herald

Even as Nepal suffers from the economic fallout of the Ukraine conflict in terms of higher food, fuel and fertilizer costs and reduced growth on the one hand and is buffeted by the US-China contestation for influence witnessed in the acrimonious debates on the US-sponsored MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) versus Chinese BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) projects, it continues to be plagued by political uncertainty. Though it is only three months since the general elections were held in November 2022. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan former PM Imran Khan dodges arrest as police arrive at his Lahore residence over Toshakhana case – The Indian Express

The Islamabad Police arrived at Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s Lahore residence Sunday in connection with the Toshakhana case amid massive protests by his supporters, Dawn reported. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief addressed party workers outside his house. Click here to read…

Pakistan crisis: Talks with IMF to begin tomorrow; here’s what to expect – Mint

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are currently locked in a debate over an unfinished loan program required for the ongoing economic crisis. The Pakistan government is likely to resume virtual talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tomorrow i.e. on 6 March, a report by Pakistan-based media outlet Dawn has stated. These talks with the IMF will finalise revenue and expenditure figures for the next four months, a senior government official told the daily. Click here to read…

UK, Pakistan sign pact for supply of ammunition to Ukraine via Germany – The Economic Times

The UK’s ministry of defence signed the pact with Pakistan Ordinance Factories recently, following which an ammunition consignment of 162 containers, including artillery rockets, was shipped from the Karachi Port to Ukraine via Germany in February, ET has reliably learnt. The consignment went via vessel ‘MV Juist’ from Karachi Port, to be transferred via German Port of Emden. Click here to read…

Bankrupt Pakistan gets another 1.3 billion aid from all-weather friend China – Times Now

This comes only days after Beijing gave the cash-strapped nation a $700 million gift. Dar announced the finance would be provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) during a news conference held in this location. This week, China gave Pakistan a much-needed $700 million cash infusion to bolster its struggling economy before the conclusion of negotiations with the IMF for financial assistance. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s president says Punjab polls to be held on April 30 – AlJazeera

Pakistani President Arif Alvi has announced that elections for the dissolved assembly of Punjab, the country’s most populous province, will be held on April 30. The decision on Friday followed a proposal by the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the polls between April 30 and May 7, according to a statement from the president’s office. Click here to read…

Pakistan to Host Counterterrorism Talks with US – VOA

Pakistan will host a two-day meeting with the United States starting Monday to discuss cooperation in countering what Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry called the “common threat of terrorism” facing the two countries. Christopher Landberg, the U.S. State Department’s acting coordinator for counterterrorism, will lead the U.S. interagency delegation in the talks, the ministry said Sunday. “The two-day dialogue will provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views and share their experiences and best practices in the domain of counterterrorism,” the statement added. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India, Sri Lanka May Use Indian Rupee for Economic Transactions – NDTV

India and Sri Lanka are exploring the possibility of using the Indian Rupee for economic transactions and have discussed the initiative that will help in building a stronger and closer partnership through trade and investment-led measures between the two countries. The High Commission of India here organised a discussion on the use of the Indian Rupee (INR) for transactions between India and Sri Lanka on Thursday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka to dump China for India? Colombo allays Indian security concerns after spy ship row – Hindustan Times

Sri Lanka’s fresh attempt to mend ties with India over the Chinese ‘spy ship’ row. Colombo said it won’t allow any country to use its land to harm India. Lankan foreign minister Ali Sabry said that the country wants to balance things to ensure peace and lauded India for coming to its rescue when it faced an unprecedented economic crisis last year. The Lankan minister said his government plans to work more closely with New Delhi. Click here to read…

Indo-US strategic allies hold up Sri Lanka’s struggling politics, economy – Business

With a focus on boosting security and fostering economic growth, India and the US have recently strengthened their strategic alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. They have both committed to helping Sri Lanka during its current crisis, with India offering USD 4 billion in aid through 2022 while the US donated over 3.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and over USD 17.9 million to Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

Opposition asks EC to hold LG polls on 19 March – Island

All Opposition parties have called on the Election Commission (EC) to hold the local government (LG) polls by 19 March. The SJB, the JVP-led NPP, the TNA, the SLFP, the TPA, the SLMC, the ACMC, and the breakaway fractions of the SLPP, had jointly written to the EC, urging it to hold the LG elections on 19 March, in keeping with its undertaking given to Court, TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam told The Island. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Pakistan’s special representative to Afghanistan resigns – India Today

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq on Wednesday resigned from his post, citing personal reasons. “After serving close to three years as Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, I have requested the government that the time has come for me to move on and focus on my personal pursuits – family, books, and agriculture/environment,” he tweeted. Click here to read…

Afghanistan resumes passport distribution after 5-month hiatus – AA

Afghanistan Wednesday resumed distributing passports five months after service problems were suspended due to “technical problems.” According to the Passport General Directorate, the technical problems have been resolved and the distribution of passports will resume. Afghans who went to directorate branches formed long lines to get new passports. Earlier, the Taliban interim administration had announced that it would resume passport distribution across the country on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Foreign Minister calls for promotion of peace, harmony across nation – The Print

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday called for promotion of peace and harmony across nations and stressed the need for inculcating a mindset of respect towards others at an event at the Vivekananda International Foundation in Delhi. “We have been promoting cultural peace across nations… If we inculcate a mindset of respect for others irrespective of religion, colour, we can hope to have sustainable peace across nations,” the minister said. Momen called for an end to violence, war and terror in regions and nations, and said if there is peace there will not be millions of refugees like the Rohingyas, who are being provided shelter by Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Anti-Russia sanctions by the West hit Global South, including Bangladesh: Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen – The Hindu

Countries that have been unleashing sanctions against each other after the beginning of the Ukraine war never consulted Dhaka, even though Bangladesh is among those nations “hit hardest” by the economic fallout of the crisis, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen said. Mr. Momen spoke to The Hindu hours after arriving in New Delhi to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that began on Wednesday evening with a conversation and dinner among the delegations of the participating countries. He reiterated that there was an urgent requirement to maintain open channels of dialogue at both regional and global levels so that less developed countries are not left alone to deal with the unpredictable scenarios of the contemporary world order. Click here to read…

Talks needed, open minds too – Daily Star

In recent days, several media reports have focused on the possibility of talks between the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP over holding an inclusive national election. Those reports read the ruling party may take an initiative to bring the BNP to the table for ensuring the latter’s participation in the national election, slated for January next year, to make it acceptable to all. But the BNP is currently busy waging a simultaneous movement with like-minded parties to press home the demand for an election-time caretaker government and resignation of the incumbent government. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Bhutan strategises to promote tourism – Kuensel

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has come up with a marketing strategy to promote Bhutan abroad. It consists of raising awareness in media, engagement with international B2B (travel agents) and webinars, travel and trade events, advertising and digital marketing campaigns, domestic industry engagement and existing and new market activations. Officials of DoT said that social media is also part of the strategy and they have several big influencers from Thailand, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom coming to Bhutan. Click here to read…

Duty-free shops begin selling gold to tourists – Kuensel

Tourists visiting Bhutan can purchase gold from the Bhutan Duty-Free shops in Phuentsholing and Thimphu. The shops started selling gold on March 1. In Thimphu, tourists can purchase the gold from the duty-free shop at Chubachu and in Phuentsholing, the duty-free shop will be temporarily housed at the Bank of Bhutan office. The price of gold at the duty-free shops will be based on the global gold price. “However, products bought from a duty-free shop anywhere in the world are cheaper, which is the same in Bhutan. The same principle will also be applied to the sale of gold. Therefore, the gold bought from the Bhutan Duty-Free shops should be cheaper compared to the normal market,” Dorji Dhradhul said. Click here to read…

Handmade carpets an alternate source of income for women in Bhutan’s Cha-Ngar-Zam village. – ANI

Handmade carpets or dramtse dhen are an alternate source of income for women in Bhutan’s Zhemgang district’s Cha-Ngar-Zam village. A group of twelve women working in the Traditional Dremdhen Unit weave carpet of all sozes and designs. The traditional Drumdhen Unit not only generates profits but is also helping empower rural women. Click here to read…

Maldives

Former Maldives president gets 11 years for corruption, slapped with $3 million penalty – India Narrative

Former Maldivian president Abdullah Yameen, currently the opposition leader, has been asked to pay $1 million of laundered money and $2 million more related to corruption while dealing with a foreign company for resort development. The Criminal Court in the Maldives also sentenced Yameen to 11 years in prison over corruption and money laundering charges related to the leasing of Aarah island in Vaavu Atoll to a foreign party, according to the Maldivian media. Yameen is the leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Click here to read…

Myanmar

Indian State-owned firm sold artillery barrels to Myanmar: activists – The Hindu

An Indian State-owned arms manufacturer has shipped artillery barrels to military-ruled Myanmar, an activist group said Wednesday, warning they could be used by the junta in its crackdown on dissent. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government two years ago, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking mass protests. Click here to read…

Myanmar junta sentences nearly 2,400 people in February alone – RFA

Myanmar’s military junta sentenced almost 2,400 people to prison terms in February, more than doubling the number of prisoners it sentenced since taking power in the 2021 coup to nearly 4,700. Statistics from the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, or AAPP, showed that between the coup and Jan. 31, 2023, the junta had sentenced 2,299 people, but in February 2023 alone, it sentenced 2,384. Click here to read…

Malaysia’s Anwar says Asean cannot view Myanmar crisis as a ‘purely internal’ issue – SCMP

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for new ways to persuade Myanmar’s ruling generals to resolve the civil conflict, as he revealed more than 200,000 refugees had fled Myanmar to his country. Anwar made the comment in Manila, where he was visiting as part of his first regional tour since taking office last November. Click here to read…

China, Myanmar Have Resumed Work on Railway Project, Report Says – The Diplomat

Earlier this week, the news magazine Frontier reported that a Chinese state company had quietly resumed preliminary work on a railway running from southern China to the Myanmar coast in Rakhine State. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal welcomes over 120,000 tourists in 2023, Indians top the list in Feb – Business Standard

Nepal has welcomed more than 1,20,000 tourists in the first two months of this year, the Himalayan nation’s tourism department said on Wednesday, with Indians accounting for the highest numbers of arrivals in February. Click here to read…

In Nepal game of political dice, Prachanda-Deuba & India are back while Oli out in the cold again – The Print

The wheels are turning in Nepali politics again, barely a couple of months since the elections threw up a new coalition government led by two Communist parties, one of whose leaders abandoned his pre-poll partner to become Prime Minister in alliance with the other. Click here to read…

Nepal welcomes investment in nationally prioritized sectors from China: ambassador – global Times

Nepal is a virgin land for investment and it welcomes investment from China in the nationally prioritized sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism, mines, mineral, infrastructure, and information and communication technology, said Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha on Tuesday. “China is a trusted neighbor and reliable development partner of Nepal. China is not only the largest source of tourism for Nepal, but also one of our largest trade and investment partners,” he said. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan risks $18 bn fine for not completing Iran gas pipeline – Daiji World

Pakistan risks a fine of $18 billion for not completing the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project in the timeframe stipulated in the agreement, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed. The apex committee of the National Assembly (NA) met with Noor Alam Khan in the chair and deliberated on the non-utilisation of 332 billion PKR in gas infrastructure development cess, The Express Tribune reported. Click here to read…

Pakistan launches its first-ever digital census – The Hindu

Pakistan Wednesday launched its first-ever digital population and housing census, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that it will help future planning and efficient utilisation of resources ahead of this year’s general elections. Click here to read…

Pakistan appoints envoy for Kartarpur to woo pilgrims – Tribune India

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Ramesh Singh Arora as the Ambassador-at-large for Kartarpur Corridor as part of efforts to attract Sikh pilgrims from across the world, a government notification said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka workers defy strike ban to protest IMF bailout plan – Aljazeera

Sri Lankan workers have gone on strike in defiance of a government ban to protest against a rescue plan for the bankrupt island nation, forcing the closure of some hospitals, banks and ports. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is facing a public backlash over steep tax hikes and spending cuts imposed to secure a sorely needed International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. About 40 trade unions, including government hospital staff and bank employees, stopped work on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Indonesia to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka to increase bilateral trade – Colombo Page

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Dewi Gustina Tobing said her country would like to finalize a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Sri Lanka to facilitate bilateral trade between the two countries. The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Tuesday (28) to discuss issues including enhancing cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, and tourism. Click here to read…

Indian Navy Ship Sukanya departs after successful bilateral naval exercise with Sri Lanka Navy – Colombo Page

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sukanya which arrived in Colombo on 27th February 2023 on a three-day official visit, departed the island today (01st March) after successfully concluding bilateral naval exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy. At her departure, the ship conducted a naval exercise with SLNS Gajabahu of the Sri Lanka Navy and in the Passage Exercise (PASSEX), Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills, formations and ship man oeuvres, communication exercises were conducted, the Navy said. Click here to read…

The month was marked with major developments as the year 2023 is crucial for Myanmar with the announcement of elections. On 31 January, the two years of emergency rule is supposed to end, and the National Defence and Security Council has to conduct elections in the next six months. With the expiry of the emergency rule, one needs to ask whether the elections will take place and, if yes, whether they will be free and fair. The country witnessed many events preceding the elections, with the changes in the elections rules and regulations and the meetings within different groups. Internationally, as the military rule enters its third year, more sanctions were imposed by the western nations and reports by Human Rights Watch and Fortify Rights raised concerns over the worsening situation in the country.

Elections 2023

04 January 2023 marked 75 years of the country’s Independence. The military celebrated the day with parading of troops and weaponry. In earlier years, the day was celebrated with great festivities, but since the coup, celebrations have been largely muted. ^[1] Min Aung Hlaing presided over the parade in which he stated that the regime was preparing for the elections with compilations of voters list and creating household registration data and other personal information. He reiterated that aim is to set up a “genuine, discipline-flourishing” democracy to return the nation to a state of stability and normalcy.^[2] In addition, on 06-07 January, the State Peace Talk Team, led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, held meetings with representatives of ethnic armed groups, including the United Wa State Party, the National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Shan State Progress Party to discuss plans to hold elections in their areas. ^[3] The preparation of elections has also led to increased attacks from the resistance side.^[4]

The military replaced the 2010 law with the new law on political parties, which bars parties and candidates deemed to have links to individuals or organisations “designated as committing terror acts” or seen as “unlawful”. The parties also need to secure at least 100,000 members within three months of registration and have funds of 100 million Myanmar kyats i.e. 100 times more than previously. The new law also states that the existing parties must apply for registration within two months of the legislation being announced, or they will be “automatically invalidated”. Furthermore, the law restrains the parties from lodging any complaints against the Union Election Commission (UEC) decisions on registration.^[5] This clearly will prevent any of the resistance forces from being part of the elections and thereby questions the fairness of the elections.

The military regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) also stepped up its efforts to solidify its position ahead of polls. On 05 January, Khin Yi held an informal meeting with 37 pro-military parties to discuss how they could strengthen their position in the upcoming elections. In the 2020 elections, the USDP contested almost all the constituencies but only won 71 seats. ^[6] Following the meeting, two also met 235 representatives of Yangon-based organisations and charities in Yangon.^[7] The pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militias are also forcing voters in Sagaing and Mandalay regions to attend election campaign meetings. ^[8]

The Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government (NUG) also delivered his speech that 2023 would mark the turning point in the war against military rule and called for continuous revolution with an offensive strategy. The NUG released a New Year Joint Declaration on the People’s Revolution, which has drawn up a one-year plan to eradicate the military dictatorship.^[9] They have also called Myanmar’s neighbours and other concerned countries in the Indo-Pacific region to help the people of Myanmar and their legitimate representatives.

There were also statements by Three Brotherhood Alliance and Kachin Independence Organisation chairman General N’Ban La demanding dialogue between all relevant stakeholders without Min Aung Hlaing.^[10] The NUG further stated that it had raised more than USD 100 million to fund its movement. About 45 per cent of the funds are from the sales of Spring Revolution Special Treasury Bonds. Funds were also raised through the auction of military-linked properties. Finally, the NUG earned three billion kyats (USD 1.89 million) from collecting taxes in 38 out of 330 townships across Myanmar.^[11]

The conflict has intensified within the country, and there has been a 361 per cent increase in airstrikes by the military in February-November 2022, according to data collected by ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project). Over the same period in 2021, 81 air strikes were conducted by the side of the military. The military was forced to engage in 3,127 clashes with resistance forces, compared to 1,921 clashes over the same period in 2021, a 94 per cent rise in armed conflict. ^[12] In addition, a report by the Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs of the NUG stated that Myanmar’s regime had killed at least 265 children and 414 women since the 2021 coup. The NUG’s ministry reported this week that 13 per cent of the victims are female, and nearly 9 per cent are under-18s, including infants.^[13]

Economic Situation

The World Bank “Myanmar Economic Monitor: Coping with Uncertainty” report described the ongoing struggle in the country to recover from the twin headwinds, COVID-19 and the military coup. The growth is estimated at 3 per cent for the fiscal year ending September 2023, with per capita GDP expected to remain about 13 per cent below its pre-COVID-19 level. The conflict has disrupted business operations, household incomes remain weak, and as a result, nearly 40 per cent of the country now lives below the poverty line. There has also been an increase in opium production. The UNODC estimated that production in 2022 was around 790 tonnes, and potentially as high as 1,200 tonnes, with an expansion in both the amount grown and the yield per hectare. Much of the increase in opium production has occurred in Shan State.^[41] Using a combination of satellite imagery and field reporting, a new UNODC report has found an increase of 33 per cent in opium production since February 2021. ^[15] To stabilise the economy, the Military Council established the Fund for Uplifting of National Economy with 400 billion kyats and a new fund MSME Development Fund for micro, small and medium enterprises, was set up.^[16]

International Developments

Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its report “World Report 2023”, accused Myanmar’s military of war crimes and crimes against humanity since the takeover in February 2021. The report noted that the military had committed mass killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians in conflict areas. Furthermore, the military hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid to communities most at risk. The report called for international commitment through targeted sanctions against the military and emphasised the role that Indonesia needs to play as an ASEAN chair.^[17] In another report, HRW accused Japan of transferring over USD one million in 2022 to Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) under the Yokogawa Bridge Corporation project. HRW urged the Japanese government to suspend all ongoing non-humanitarian aid benefitting Myanmar’s military, which has been accused of committing widespread crimes since February 2021.^[18]

The Special Advisory Council on Myanmar also released a report noting that several UN member states continue to sell weapons to the military. Around 13 countries, such as the US, India, France, and Japan, are supplying crucial raw materials and machines to Myanmar’s military for the production of a range of weapons. For instance, high-precision machines made by the Austrian supplier GFM Steyr are used in several locations to manufacture gun barrels. Similarly, raw materials, such as copper and iron from China, have been traced to weapons production in Myanmar. The key components, such as fuses and electric detonators, have been acquired from companies in India and Russia, and the software is believed to originate from Israel and France. The number of factories producing arms in Myanmar has multiplied from around six in 1988 to around 25 factories.^[19]

As the military rule is about to enter its third year, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations on 31 January. These amendments list an additional six individuals under the Schedule of the Regulations and include a new prohibition on the export, sale, supply or shipment of aviation fuel (wherever situated globally) destined for Myanmar or any person in Myanmar. This is the ninth amendment to the Regulations, and in total, it includes over 150 parties.^[20]

With Indonesia taking over as the ASEAN Chair, on 11 January, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announced that they would establish a special envoy’s office to enable a national dialogue to address the crisis and allow humanitarian assistance. The official added that ASEAN would also continue to collaborate with the United Nations special envoy in dealing with the Myanmar issue.^[21] In response, Myanmar’s military warned ASEAN not to interfere with its internal matters and warned ASEAN not to “engage with any terrorist groups and unlawful associations [recognised] by the Government of Myanmar”.^[22] In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during his two-day visit to Indonesia, urged the Myanmar military to implement peace plans drawn up by the regional grouping.^[23]

On the other hand, the meeting between the chief of Thailand’s Defence Forces, Chalermphon Srisawasdi, and Min Aung Hlaing from 19-21 January raised concerns about a uniform approach within the ASEAN members to deal with the Myanmar crisis. The meeting happened shortly after the assets of Min Aung Hlaing’s children and cronies were confiscated in Thailand over their alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade. The annual meeting of both military leaders did not happen in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, despite a Myanmar military offensive on the border raising security concerns, both sides went ahead with the decision to reopen the friendship bridge across Moei River, linking Thailand’s Mae Sot district and Myanmar’s Myawaddy on 16 January. The reopening of the bridge will facilitate the resumption of cross-border activities after three years of closure.^[24]

Earlier during the month, China opened three border gates to Myanmar on 08 January, but Myanmar refused to open the gates on its side of the border following fears resulting from surging COVID-19 infection rates in China. These three border gates, Nandaw, Sinphyu and Manwein, have seen the highest levels of border trade between China and Myanmar.^[25] Furthermore, Bangladesh requested China to discuss the issue with the Myanmar government to resolve the fresh unrest at the Zero Line on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.^[26]

India in Myanmar

As the Myanmar military began airstrikes on Camp Victoria in Chin State, the fallouts of the same could be heard on the border with Mizoram state’s Champhai district near to the camp. As per media reports, at least one shell landed on the Indian side. Due to similar aerial bombardments, tensions have already been reported with Bangladesh and Thailand. However, India hasn’t yet responded in an official manner.^[27] Following the bombings, around 200 Myanmar’s nationals crossed the border into Mizoram.^[28] Myanmar’s NUG has also urged the Indian government and other neighbouring countries to stop military warplanes from using their airspace.^[29] Finally, there are hopes to complete the last 109 km of Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport (KMMTT) project, as IRCON was recently appointed as the Project Management Consultant (PMC).^[30]

Conclusion

Amnesty International accused the military of arbitrarily arresting, torturing and murdering people. Since the coup, more than 3,000 people have been killed, 1.5 million have been internally displaced, and more than 13,000 are still detained in inhumane conditions, with four people executed and at least 138 sentenced to death.^[31] There is a widespread call for increased collective international action ahead of the anniversary on 01 February 2023. There is an immediate need to implement a global arms embargo on Myanmar and cooperating countries such as China and Russia to suspend any direct or indirect supply of arms and ammunition. Even the supply of aviation fuel to Myanmar needs to be restrained to ensure that aviation fuel will not be used to carry out airstrikes. And most importantly, as the elections need to be held by the end of two years of military rule, it is crucial to engage with all stakeholders and ensure there is a re-establishment of an inclusive democratic and federal system in Myanmar.

Endnotes :

^[1]https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-junta-marks-independence-day-show-force-military-built-capital-3181706
^[2]https://thediplomat.com/2023/01/myanmars-military-junta-takes-step-toward-controversial-election/
^[3]https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/myanmar-junta-military-proxy-party-gear-up-for-2023-election
^[4]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-census-collection-sparks-deadly-resistance-attacks.html
^[5]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/27/myanmar-military-unveils-strict-new-election-law-ahead-of-polls
^[6]https://www.mizzima.com/article/usdp-chairperson-meets-37-political-parties-naypyitaw
^[7]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/with-eye-on-poll-myanmar-military-allied-usdp-meets-charities-social-groups.html
^[8]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/pro-junta-militias-forcing-myanmar-voters-to-attend-election-propaganda-sessions.html
^[9]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/acting-president-2023-will-mark-turning-point-for-myanmars-revolution.html
^[10]https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/all-stakeholders-negotiations-can-succeed-just-take-out-min-aung-hlaing.html
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/revolutionary-armies-demand-unified-attacks-on-myanmar-junta.html
^[11]https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/myanmar-shadow-government-raises-131m-to-oppose-junta
^[12]https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/sham-election-will-only-prolong-myanmar-civil-war-jakarta-post-contributor
^[13]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-continues-to-target-women-and-children-nug.html
^[14]https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-opium-production-booming-in-myanmar-after-the-coup-report/
^[15]https://www.miragenews.com/myanmars-economy-under-uncertainty-937157/
^[16]https://www.mizzima.com/article/myanmar-allocates-170-billion-kyat-small-and-medium-enterprises
^[17]https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/12/myanmar-abuses-mount-military-coup
^[18]https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/23/myanmar-japans-construction-aid-benefits-junta
^[1]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64250674
^[20]https://www.globalcompliancenews.com/2023/02/06/https-sanctionsnews-bakermckenzie-com-canada-amends-myanmar-sanctions-6-individuals-targeted-and-new-prohibition-on-aviation-fuel-_02022023/
^[21]https://en.vietnamplus.vn/indonesia-to-establish-office-of-asean-special-envoy-on-myanmar/246919.vnp
^[22]https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/asean-01122023175903.html
^[23]https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/indonesia-malaysia-agree-to-strengthen-asean-urge-myanmar-to-implement-peace-plans
^[24]The Thai military also ignored the violation of its airspace by a Myanmar MiG 29 fighter jet in June 2022. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-militarys-close-ties-with-myanmar-junta-compromising-asean-efforts-to-resolve-crisis/
^[25]https://www.mizzima.com/article/myanmar-junta-keeps-border-gates-china-closed-following-covid-19-surge
^[26]https://www.risingbd.com/english/national/news/92935
^[27]https://www.timesnownews.com/india/myanmar-military-targets-rebel-camp-in-strikes-along-mizoram-border-bombs-hit-indian-village-article-96924842
^[28]https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/mizoram/200-myanmar-refugees-in-mizoram-after-fleeing-strikes-on-border-camp-8385828/
^[29]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-civilian-government-calls-on-neighbors-to-deny-junta-jets-airspace-access.html
^[30]https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/jan/09/new-hope-for-india-myanmar-transit-kaladan-projectwith-new-consultant-2536023.html
^[31]https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/01/myanmar-coup-second-anniversary/

Afghanistan

Regional Security Officials Meet in Moscow, Discuss Afghanistan – Tolo News

The fifth multilateral meeting of security envoys was held on Wednesday in Moscow, during which they discussed the situation in Afghanistan and in the region. The Russian News Agency TASS reported that the Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said that Washington intends to continue its geopolitical experiments, including in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Click here to read…

India to always stand by Afghans, says Ajit Doval at Moscow meeting – The Tribune

“India is and will remain an important stakeholder in Afghanistan. We have always stood by people of Afghanistan and will always support collective efforts to help Afghan people build a prosperous and vibrant nation once again,” said Doval while participating in the 5th Multilateral Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils/ National Security Advisers on Afghanistan in Moscow on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Afghanistan: Taliban ‘desperate’ for resumption of flights to India – Firstpost

With the global community yet to recognise the current regime in Kabul, the Afghan Taliban is reportedly desperate for flights to resume between India and Afghanistan. According to a Hindustan Times report, the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan are optimistic that India will agree to resume direct flights between New Delhi and Kandahar. Click here to read…

Taliban Tighten Currency Controls After Dollar Smuggling Report – Bloomberg

The Taliban imposed fresh restrictions on people carrying foreign currency out of Afghanistan via a rare directive from the prime minister’s office after a report that millions of dollars were being smuggled in each day from Pakistan, shoring up its battered economy. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Awami League wants to see no unopposed MPs in next parliament – Dhaka Tribune

Awami League President and Prime Minister President Sheikh Hasina has called upon party lawmakers to take massive preparations for a participatory and representative election, regardless of whether the opposition BNP and its allies participate in it. Click here to read…

Fakhrul, Abbas get permanent bail – Daily Star

The High Court yesterday granted permanent bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas in a case filed over last year’s December 7 clash between police and BNP men in Nayapaltan. The HC bench of Justice Md Salim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan delivered the verdict holding the final hearing on a bail petition filed by them. Click here to read…

IMF Loans and the Post-Truth Politics in Bangladesh – Geopolitics

Finally, on Jan 30, 2023, Bangladesh successfully secured loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). For the last seven months since July 2022, intense negotiations took place which also became a political scoop for Bangladesh’s political parties. Oppositions and pressure groups resorted to mass persuasion using rhetoric and ‘charlatan’ predictions and analysis to decrease citizens’ confidence in the incumbent government. For a while, they were successful in creating skepticism about whether Bangladesh would get the loans or not. Such skepticism also induced unnecessary alarm, stress, confusion, and uncertainty, and created friction in the country. Looking back at that rhetoric, and half-cooked predictions, it seems there is a ‘post-truth’ politics at play in Bangladesh regarding the IMF loan. Click here to read…

Who killed democracy in Bangladesh? – Daily Star

The minister (Obaidul Quader) has cited the “peaceful atmosphere” that prevailed during the polling on February 1. Indeed, it was very peaceful. When fewer than 20 percent of voters turn up to vote, it is bound to be peaceful. When the opposition voters are told not to bother to come to the polling stations, it is bound to be “peaceful.” When an opposition candidate goes into hiding, unable to withstand the pressure on him, peace is bound to follow. The recent by-polls represent the state of democracy in our country fairly accurately. The near-empty polling booths, if nothing, displays a lack of trust; in fact, it demonstrates people’s apathy towards elections and voting. Most voters feel it is an exercise in futility under the present circumstances, the results a forgone conclusion. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Agriculture sector contributes the least to the economy – Kuensel

Agriculture sector employs nearly half of the country’s workforce. However, it is the least productive sector in the country. According to the Royal Monetary Authority’s (RMA) recent annual report, the agriculture sector employed 158,511 persons, equivalent to 49.2 percent of the total labour force in 2021. Click here to read…

India: EAM S. Jaishankar meets National Assembly Speaker of Bhutan Wangchuk Namgyel – Georgia Online

The External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, met with the Bhutanese National Assembly Speaker, Wangchuk Namgyel, in Delhi. The officials, at the meeting, discussed ways to strengthen the economic cooperation and concerns of the youth of both nations. The Indian official met with the 13-member delegation of Namgyel while praising the kind of relations the two nations bear with each other. Click here to read…

Five from Bhutan among IRS officers training in Bengaluru – Times of India

The 74th IRS batch has 43 officers in addition to five Bhutan-origin civil servants who shared their experience of learning in India. They said the IRS syllabus offered them a chance at knowledge enhancement. They got to learn about land, sea and air trade, unlike in their land-locked country. Click here to read…

3.5 million tourists will be welcomed annually by 2028 – Pres. Solih – Raajje

The President made the statement in his Presidential Address on Monday. In his address, President Solih described the past three years as the most challenging years the Maldivian economy has faced. As such, he noted that the Covid-19 pandemic brought a complete halt to the Maldivian economy. The President stated that the administration can show results based on mathematical results on the work done and what remains to be done. He said that data demonstrate how well the Maldivian economy is doing. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Manipur governor calls for combating anti-social activities from Myanmar – North East Now

Inspecting the Indo-Myanmar border at Kasom Khullen sub-divisional headquarters in Kamjong district of Manipur, governor La Ganesan, on Wednesday, called for combating the issues of illegal migration, smuggling of drugs, weapons, sneaking insurgents, etc that are being perpetrated from neighboring countries into Indian territory. Click here to read…

Chevron exits Myanmar upstream sector – Upstream Online

US supermajor Chevron has agreed to sell its significant stake in the producing Yadana gas field offshore Myanmar to Canada’s MTI Energy, prompting Justice for Myanmar to call for Canadian and UK sanctions on state-owned Myanma Oil & Gas Enterprise (MOGE). Chevon confirmed to Upstream it has agreed to sell its 41.1% stake in the Yadana gas project to Et Martem Holdings, a subsidiary of MTI Energy. Click here to read…

Anti-junta forces retreat after holding strategic river village for several days – Myanmar Now

Resistance forces in northern Sagaing Region’s Homalin Township withdrew on Saturday from a strategically important village that they captured and held for several days last week, according to sources. Shwe Pyi Aye Myothit, located on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River some 30km southwest of the town of Homalin, fell to an alliance of anti-junta groups on February 1. It remained under their control for the next three days, despite multiple counterattacks from the military and its militia allies. Click here to read…

Nepal

How Nepal Regenerated Its Forests – Earth Observatory

Today, community forests occupy nearly 2.3 million hectares—about a third of Nepal’s forest cover—and are managed by over 22,000 community forest groups comprising 3 million households. A 2016 United Nations report on the state of forests around the world found that three countries with the most annual gain in tree cover between 2010 and 2015 were the Philippines (with an annual growth rate of 3.3 percent), Chile (1.8 percent), and Lao PDR (0.9 percent). Within community forests of Kābhrepalāñchok and Sindhupālchok, forest growth between 2010 and 2015 was 1.84 percent. Click here to read…

Nepal opens high-level dialogue with defence minister’s visit to India – India Narrative

In a bid to further deepen bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries, Nepal’s Defence Minister Hari Prasad Upreti will be paying an official visit to India next week, officials said here on Tuesday. Upreti is visiting New Delhi from February 13 to 17 at the official invitation of his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. This is the maiden foreign visit of the defence minister after he assumed the office on January 17. Upreti’s visit will mark the first high-level exchange between Nepal and India after the Prachanda government took office following elections. Click here to read…

Key Ally Quits Government in Nepal – The Diplomat

On February 6, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) decided to quit the coalition government led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Center (CPN-MC) supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The party lasted barely a month in the government. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan Navy invites 110 countries for ‘Exercise Aman’; only 7 bother to send ships – Times Now

Exercise Aman, for the Pakistan Navy, is a prestigious moment. It is its biggest exercise and though it’s to begin on February 10, of the 110 countries invited, only seven have bothered to send ships or submarines. The four-day biannual exercise appears to be another sign of Pakistan’s increasing isolation and participation appears to be going down. This year only seven countries have sent ships– the United States of America, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, and Japan. Click here to read…

Turkey insults Pakistan, refuses to host PM Shehbaz Sharif – Firstpost

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif announced his visit to Ankara to show solidarity with Turkey. He did not think that the country which is currently facing a natural disaster, resources should not be spent on VIP visits. In such a situation, Turkey itself refused to host Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif. Click here to read…

12 TTP militants killed in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – The Hindu

Pakistan’s security forces gunned down 12 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants on February 8 in the country’s restive northwest, police said, as the government stepped up its offensive against outlawed groups following a spike in terror attacks. Click here to read…

Pakistan at beginning of worst economic crisis since country’s formation: Report – Economic Times

Pakistan is currently at the beginning of the worst economic crisis since the country’s formation in 1947, Geo-politik reported. According to Geo-politik, Pakistan has taken fourteen loans from the IMF thus far, but ironically none of them has ever been completed. This, therefore, raises serious questions about the capacity and capability of the Pakistan state to get out of this dead-end. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

“I will respect the country” – Daily News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe delivering the Government’s Policy Statement yesterday requested everyone not to be prisoners of the past, but think about the future. “Let’s unite consensually and move forward democratically to support the recovery of the nation from the current crisisClick here to read…

Swiss government provides funds through UNICEF to support services for children In Sri Lanka – Colombo Page

The Government of Switzerland has contributed Swiss Francs (CHF) 500,000 (approximately Rs. 199 million) through UNICEF to meet the urgent needs of children impacted by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. With this funding, UNICEF will procure essential medical supplies, including medicines for treatment of illnesses and complications among children and women. In education, the funds will help children in disadvantaged schools continue learning and support catch-up classes to recover learning loss, including by providing transport allowance to teachers and daily snacks to students. Click here to read…

Japanese State Minister of Foreign affairs visits Port of Colombo – Daily News

Japanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs TAKEI Shunsuke visited the Port of Colombo learn about the ongoing developments in the Port of Colombo. During the visit the Japanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs also met the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) – Keith D. Bernard and other higher officials at the main control tower of the Port. The Chairman of SLPA explained to the Japanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the progress of the developments of the East Container Terminal (ECT), the West Container Terminal and the North Port Development Project. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Days After Peshawar Blast, Pak Teams to Ask Afghan Taliban to ‘Rein in’ TTP – The Wire

Days after the January 30 suicide bomb attack at Peshawar which killed 100 people, Dawn has reported that Pakistan will ask the supreme leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban government to rein in militants in the country. Click here to read…

Two injured in blast in Afghanistan capital Kabul – Big News Network

Taliban-ruled government’s security official reported that a blast took place in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul’s ‘Pashtunistan Square,’ and injured two civilians, Khaama Press reported. On Saturday evening, an explosion took place which was caused by the magnetic mine placed in a Toyota ‘Hilux’ vehicle, said Khalid Zadran, Taliban’s appointed spokesperson for the Kabul police Command. Click here to read…

Qatar Sends Envoy To Afghan Capital To Meet With Taliban – Radio Free Europe

An envoy for Qatar’s foreign minister visited the Afghan capital on February 5 and met with the Taliban administration’s acting foreign minister, according to an Afghan Foreign Ministry statement. The visit comes after the Taliban administration placed restrictions on women’s education and NGO work, which Qatar labelled “deeply concerning” amid widespread international criticism. Click here to read…

Biden to Extend Executive Order Regarding Afghanistan – Tolo News

US President Joe Biden indicated to US Congress he is extending the executive order for the “national emergency with respect to the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan.” The Islamic Emirate called on Washington to not politicalize the issue of Afghanistan’s assets and to immediately release them. Click here to read…

Taliban Say Want To Partake In Multilateral Meeting On Afghanistan In Moscow Next Week – Urdu Point

A representative of the Taliban (under UN sanctions over terrorist activities) should take part in a meeting of secretaries of the security councils on the Afghan issue, scheduled to take place in Moscow next week, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Sunday. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh asks Pakistan to apologise for 1971 atrocities – Wion

Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to apologise for atrocities committed by its forces in 1971. The matter came up during the meeting between Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar in Sri Lanka where the ministers were present to attend the Independence Day celebrations of the island nation. Click here to read…

Bangladesh scraps parboiled rice G2G import deals with Indian co-op agencies – THB

Bangladesh has cancelled its orders to import two lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from two Indian cooperative agencies through government-to-government (G2G) deals after having kept them in “abeyance” for a few weeks. Trade sources said Bangladesh, which began dragging its feet after getting a couple of offers offering the rice at lower prices, has returned the “bid bonds” submitted by the two cooperative agencies during negotiations. Click here to read…

India-Bangladesh Cooperation and Connectivity are still win-win – Dhaka Tribune

There is no question that Bangladesh would benefit from a more robust and assertive regional foreign policy. But while its interests are naturally not in lock-steps with India’s, there is still plenty of meat on the bilateral partnership bone for both countries. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Funding the FAM tour – Kuensel Online

Elections can be an expensive affair and the new political parties know it well. Having to introduce their party, president and candidates to the voters, new political parties are allowed familiarisation (FAM) tour in all the 20 dzongkhags. The two new political parties Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) and Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa (DTT) had been to more than a dozen dzongkhags. Click here to read…

Bhutan on course of graduating from Least Developed Countries status by June 2023: Reports – India Blooms

To graduate the status, countries are expected to follow a smooth transition strategy. Macroeconomic stability, product space diversification, and disaster resilience are some of the parameters recommended for inclusion in Bhutan’s transition strategy, reports ANI. Click here to read…

How an Indo-Bhutan Border Market Has Moved Beyond Narratives of Conflict and Security – The Wire

Local trade dynamics and shared inter-dependence of resources among local communities at the border markets hold important lessons for engendering cooperation and the benefits of peaceful, stable and open (yet regulated) borders. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives tourist arrivals increase by 30 percent in January – Edition.mv

The tourist arrivals to the Maldives increased by 30.9 percent in January, the Ministry of Tourism reported. According to the ministry’s recent statistics, the total number of tourist arrivals stood at 178,159 by the end of the review date on February 1. In January 2023, the total tourist arrivals reached 172,536 which is a 30.9 percent increase compared to the 131,762 arrivals in the same month last year. Click here to read…

Maldives remains in the same position on the corruption index – Edition.mv

The Maldives’ efforts against corruption remained unchanged, according to last year’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The country ranked 85th out of 185 countries with 40 points on the CPI. The measure is calculated based on the Global Insight Country Risk Ratings, the Varieties of Democracy Project and the World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA). Click here to read…

Myanmar

Indonesia pushes for implementation of Myanmar peace plan, resumption of COC talks – The Jakarta Post

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat wrapped up in Jakarta on Saturday, with a proposal from Indonesia to implement a five-point peace plan for Myanmar and to resume negotiations for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Click here to read…

‘Rice diplomacy’ between India, Bangladesh and Myanmar – The News Mill

Bangladesh has offered over $40 a tonne more to Indian co-operatives to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice in a government-to-government deal compared with prices quoted by the private trade in a global import tender. The import deal will be through NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and Kendriya Bhandar in two tranches with Dhaka getting rice at $443 and $443.5 a tonne each, according to media report. Click here to read…

Uncertainty weighs on Myanmar’s economy, says World Bank – Mizzima

Call it a double-whammy. When assessing the current dire state of the Myanmar economy, two factors stand out. Firstly, close to three years of response to the COVID-19 pandemic saw a combination of lockdowns, social distancing, masking and travel restrictions hammer the economy, particularly small to medium businesses, and the livelihood of day workers. Secondly, the 2021 military coup and its aftermath rattled people’s daily lives and added to the uncertainty. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal-China to meet on cross-border transmission line in two weeks – Kathmandu Post

Nepal and China are scheduled to hold another round of discussions later this month on the development of a cross-border transmission line between the two countries. A Joint Technical Group comprising representatives of the Nepal Electricity Authority and the State Grid Corporation of China had previously held two rounds of talks in China and Nepal, respectively, on the issue before the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read…

A peek into the Nepali economy during the pandemic – Kathmandu Post

Anyone who reads on Nepali economy must be familiar with Sujeev Shakya and his writings. The founder and CEO of the Nepal-based international management consulting and advisory firm, Beed Management, has been writing economic columns for over two decades. He has also published several books on the topic including Unleashing Nepal, Unleashing The Vajra, Arthat Arthatantra (It’s the Economy) and Arthat Pariwartan (It’s the Change). Click here to read…

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Urpilainen to visit Nepal – Kathmandu Post

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, is scheduled to arrive in Nepal on Wednesday for an official visit to meet Nepali leaders and launch several EU actions in the country. “I look forward to presenting our Global Gateway strategy, the EU’s positive offer to partners to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.” Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pervez Musharraf, Former Military Ruler of Pakistan, Dies at 79 – The New York Times

Pervez Musharraf, the onetime military ruler of a nuclear-armed Pakistan who promised critical support for Washington’s campaign against Al Qaeda after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but faced growing resistance at home in a land seething with anti-Western passions, died on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was 79. Click here to read…

Seven injured in two Quetta attacks – Dawn

Seven people were injured in two terrorist attacks, one of them said to be a suicide bombing, on Sunday. The first incident took place near the Police Lines on Gulistan Road and the other on Mano Jan Road. Five people, including an office-bearer of the Civil Secretariat Staff Association, suffered injuries in the first attack. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir issue, extends support to separatists – Hindustan Times

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday raked up the Kashmir issue on the occasion of what they call ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’, a propaganda tool against India by expressing support for separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also used the occasion to issue anti-India statement claiming that New Delhi has “opened a new chapter in suppressing” people of Kashmir. Click here to read…

Pakistan economic crisis: IMF places new bailout conditions, PM says they are beyond wildest dreams – Indian Express

The first round of technical talks between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a cash-strapped Pakistan concluded on Friday, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif terming the IMF bailout conditions as something “beyond our wildest dreams”. Stating that IMF is giving a “tough time” to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team, the Pakistan PM on Friday hinted that harsh measures have to be taken to revive the stalled loan programmeClick here to read…

Army chief lands in UK on five-day visit – Dawn

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Muneer arrived here on Saturday on a five-day visit. The COAS will attend meetings on defence-related issues, being held between February 5 and 9. Gen Muneer is in London to attend a conference at Wilton Park, an executive agency created by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office to foster open dialogue between governments. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India delivers fifty more buses to Sri Lanka at Presidential Secretariat premises under Economic Assistance Scheme of Indian government. NewsOnAIR

India delivered fifty more buses to Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat premises, this morning as Sri Lanka celebrated its 75th Independence Day yesterday, February 4. High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay handed over the buses to Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland had bagged the contract for supplying 500 buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board, of which 75 buses were already delivered to the Island nation earlier this year. The order is a part of a Line of Credit extended by the Export-Import Bank of India, under the Economic Assistance Scheme of the Indian government. Click here to read…

India leads internationally in canvassing support for Sri Lanka, says Lankan envoy – The Print

“India’s neighbourhood policy clearly was demonstrated last year when the Sri Lankan economy headed into crisis. India moved in very quickly. Early in 2022, India realized that Sri Lanka was going to have a very serious balance of payments problem. Sri Lankan government and the Indian government discussed that and together worked on a strategy over the last year. India supported us with nearly USD 4 billion, USD 3.9 billion dollars of funding and it was done without any conditions, done without any strings attached,” said the Sri Lankan High Commissioner. Click here to read…

Not rebooting economy through ‘painkillers’, says Sri Lanka president – Wion

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickermesinghe said on Sunday (February 5) that he is repairing debt-ridden South Asian nations economy by tackling ‘root cause’ and not just by administering ‘painkillers. He asserted that systemic change and national unity along with economic reforms were needed to bring prosperity back to the country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Taliban welcome India’s funds announcement for Afghanistan in Budget 2023-24 – Wion News

Taliban welcomed the Indian announcement for Afghanistan in the Union Budget 2023-24, which was presented on Wednesday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. New Delhi announced a development assistance of Rs 200 crore ($24.3 million) for the country in the budget, which was the same amount announced in last year’s budget as well. Click here to read…

Leaked Documents Show Qatar Bribed Prominent Leaders a Month before the Collapse of Afghanistan – The Khaama Press

Italian TG1 News Network has revealed an investigative report showing that Qatar had paid Ashraf Ghani, Marshal Dostum, and Atta Mohammad Noor $110, $ 51, and $61 Million, respectively, not to fight against Taliban fighters. The Italian state-run network has recently published three documents that indicate the receipt of bribes to the prominent leaders of Afghanistan a month before the collapse of the previous government in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Pak expects sincere coop from Afghanistan to address terrorism: FO – Pakistan Observer

The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan expected “sincere cooperation” from the interim Afghan government to address the “challenge of terrorism”. The remarks came a day after Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said that Pakistan should not put the blame for the Peshawar suicide bombing on Kabul. Click here to read…

Denmark to grant asylum status to Afghan women ‘solely based on gender’ – First Post

Denmark has announced that it will grant asylum to all Afghan women owing to their worsening condition in the Taliban-ruled nation. Flygtningenævnet, the Danish Refugee Appeals Board stated that asylum status will be granted to all female applicants “solely based on their gender”. Citing a report from the European Union’s Agency for Asylum, the appeals board said that asylum status would be given to women as the “accumulation of various measures introduced by the Taliban affect the rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan.” Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh gets $476m IMF loan as first instalment – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has received the first instalment of $476 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) out of the $4.7 billion loan package. The disbursed amount has already been added to the country’s foreign exchange reserves and it currently stands at $32.69 billion, up from $32.19 billion a day earlier, Bangladesh Bank Spokesperson Md Mezbaul Haque told Dhaka Tribune. IMF approved Bangladesh’s $4.7 billion loan proposal during a board meeting on Monday. Bangladesh will get the remaining amount in six equal instalments of $704 million each. The country will get around $3.3 billion under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and about $1.4 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), according to an IMF press release issued on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Bangladesh wants revision of 2017 power purchase deal with Adani Power – TBS

Bangladesh has sought revision of a 2017 power purchase agreement with Adani Power Ltd as the price for the coal-generated electricity appeared too expensive, officials said in Dhaka on Thursday. “We have communicated with the Indian company seeking revision of the agreement,” an official of the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDC) told PTI on the condition of anonymity and without elaborating on the matter. Media reports suggested that the “high coal price” to be purchased for the Adani plant at India’s Jharkhand emerged as the key factor for the dispute. Click here to read…

Govt restricts entry of 69 US-sanctioned Russian ships – New Age

The Bangladesh government has instructed the authorities concerned not to allow any of the 69 mother vessels of seven Russian companies sanctioned by the United States to enter the country’s ports. The Mercantile Marine Office, Chattogram, issued a circular to this effect on January 16, mentioning the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) ship identification numbers so that they were not allowed to avail of any services, including certification, renewal, refuelling, and insurance, in Bangladesh territory. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Exporters seek solution to West Bengal’s Suvidha system hindering exports – Kuensel Online

Bhutanese exporting to Bangladesh via India are facing inconveniences in exporting after West Bengal’s government implemented the online web-based vehicles facilitation system, ‘Suvidha’ app. On January 4, the West Bengal government revised the fee for the Suvidha system from the uniform rate of INR 2,000 to INR 10,000 for non-perishable goods, INR 5,000 for boulders and INR 3,000 for perishable goods at the Changrabandha land custom station (LCS). Click here to read…

No improvement for Bhutan on corruption index – Kuensel Online

Bhutan scored 68 points consecutively for the fifth year in a row and has been ranked 25 for the second consecutive year in Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2022 released on January 31. Bhutan is among 124 countries that have stagnant scores and has been consecutively placed in sixth position in the Asia and Pacific Region for the past 10 years. Click here to read…

Cabinet approves Nu 65M sovereign guarantee for BLDCL – Kuensel Online

The Cabinet approved the provision of a sovereign guarantee to Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation Limited (BLDCL) in availing loan amount of Nu 65 million (M) for the automated poultry processing line project. The Cabinet directed the approval of borrowing to the finance ministry on January 30 after the Finance Ministry proposed a sovereign guarantee on January 12. Click here to read…

Maldives

Indian tourists experience the best of Maldives – Dajji World

Maldives has become the latest destination in South Asia to join Mastercard’s coveted Priceless program, a carefully curated list of destinations that offer exclusive experiences to its cardholders from around the world. The program is expected to bolster Maldives’ tourism industry while showcasing the unique and authentic experiences that the country can offer to a global audience. Click here to read…

India Budget 2023: Increase in funds for Maldives, Bhutan, support for Afghanistan continues – WION News

The Government of India has allocated Rs 2,400 crore for Bhutan, a slight increase compared to last year of Rs 2,266 crore, and Rs 400 crore to the Maldives. India has been involved in a number of infrastructure projects in the Maldives, including the Greater Malé Connectivity Project. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Indonesia should lead the way in helping Myanmar’ pro-democratic movement – The Jakarta Post

Those were two of the main conclusions that an International Parliamentary Inquiry (IPI) into the global response to the crisis in Myanmar, organized by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), reached in a report published in November. The report laid bare the many inadequacies of the international community on Myanmar, in particular how it has hidden behind ASEAN, despite the regional bloc’s evident fecklessness in managing the issue so far. Little has changed since the report came out. Click here to read…

After extension of emergency, Myanmar declares martial law in 37 towns – Business Standard

Myanmar’s State Administration Council has declared martial law in 37 towns of four regions and four states in the Southeast Asian country. According to the council’s orders issued Thursday night, the 37 towns are 11 from Sagaing region, seven from Chin state, five each from Magway and Bago regions, four from Kayah state, two each from Taninthayi region and Kayin state and one from Mon state respectively, Xinhua news agency reported. Click here to read…

Myanmar junta participation cancelled at ASEAN tourism meeting – Myanmar Now

Indonesia appears to have halted a Myanmar military council official’s planned attendance at a tourism conference to be held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week in Yogyakarta. The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), slated to be hosted in the Indonesian city from February 2-5, comes shortly after Indonesia assumed chairmanship of the regional bloc for the year 2023. Click here to read…

ASEAN foreign ministers to meet in Indonesia under shadow of Myanmar crisis – Business Standard

Southeast Asian foreign ministers are meeting in Indonesia’s capital Friday for talks bound to be dominated by the deteriorating situation in Myanmar despite an agenda focused on food and energy security and cooperation in finance and health. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal not included in Chinese govt’s tourist destinations list – My Republica

China is not only a friendly country of Nepal but also a neighboring country. China has been interested in Nepal’s internal and international affairs, but China has neglected the development of tourism here, which is linked to Nepal’s economic development. Click here to read…

RSP urged to defer decision on quitting – The Himalayan Times

The Rabi Lamichhane-led Rastriya Swatantra Party will wait for two days before deciding whether or not it should leave the government over home portfolio. RSP Spokesperson Mukul Dhakal told mediapersons after his party’s central committee met parliamentary party lawmakers that Lamichhane received calls from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden during the meeting requesting him to wait for two days before decide on withdrawing support to the government. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves drop to $3.09b – The Express Tribune

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank decreased by 16.1% to $3.09 billion in the week ending Jan 27, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday, which analysts said covers less than three weeks of imports. The country is locked in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release much-needed money under a stalled bailout programme. Click here to read…

Terror surge provides govt opportunity to negotiate with arch-rivals – Dawn

In a move that is being seen as a significant development amid rising political temperatures in the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday convened a multi-party conference (MPC) to discuss “important challenges” being faced by Pakistan. According to an announcement by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the MPC will be held in Islamabad on Feb 7, for which an invitation has also been extended to PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan. Click here to read…

Operation underway to tackle TTP in Punjab-KP border area – Dawn

The Punjab police on Wednesday morning launched a grand counterterrorism operat­ion in the highly complex and inac­cessible hilly areas of Mian­wali district, hours after some heavily equipped militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan (TTP) attacked a police station in the area in the dead of the night. Click here to read…

Time to amend water treaty with Pakistan – Deccan Herald

India’s frustration with Pakistan’s obstructionist approach has culminated in its notification to Islamabad calling for negotiations to amend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, gives India control over the waters of the eastern rivers—the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, and Pakistan control over the western rivers—the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. While the IWT has survived upheavals in bilateral relations, including wars, it has in recent decades seen the two sides pointing accusing fingers at each other. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

EU to Provide EURO 18 mn to upgrade social security – Daily News

European Union has decided to provide Euros 18 million for a programme to improve the social security system in Sri Lanka, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. State Minister Semasinghe said focus has also been made on making the welfare programme more efficient.He added that a comprehensive discussion was held on Wednesday with a delegation of the European Union (Sri Lanka and the Maldives) with the aim of identifying areas to upgrade the social security system in Sri Lanka. Click here to read…

Indian minister V. Muraleedharan to attend Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations in Colombo – Wion

Minister of state in India’s Ministry of External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will be representing India at Sri Lanka’s Independence day celebrations on Saturday. Sri Lanka this year marks its 75th National Independence celebrations. The island-nation in India’s south will be focusing on new reformist program for the next 25 years. The main ceremony of the National Independence Day celebrations will take place at the Galle Face Green led by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. During the country’s independence celebrations, special commemorative stamps will be released, including of first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka’s powerful Buddhist clergy opposes full implementation of 13A to grant political autonomy to Tamils – The Print

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to fully implement India-backed 13th Amendment to grant political autonomy to the minority Tamils received a blow on Thursday as the powerful Buddhist clergy expressed strong opposition to the move, claiming it challenges the unitary nature of the country. The four chief prelates of the main Buddhist sects handed over a letter to Wickremesinghe in the central town of Kandy. The letter charges that Wickremesinghe’s plan had created dissent in the country as the move challenges Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Blast Happened Near Foreign Ministry in Kabul: Tolo News

A blast took place in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in downtown Kabul on Wednesday afternoon. At least five civilians were killed and several others were wounded in the blast, a spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said. He said the Islamic Emirate condemns such “heinous” attacks and will punish the perpetrators. He said the explosion happened on the street of the Foreign MinistryClick here to read…

Pakistan, Afghanistan Suffering From Militancy and Terrorism: The Khaama Press

Pakistan has experienced a major rise in militancy since the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke its peace treaty with the Pakistani government in November. According to Jang Media, the attacks have claimed the lives of 415 military personnel and civilians thus far. Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) has announced that TTP and other terror groups based in border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan have launched 262 attacks over the past year, causing the death of 419 people and injuring 734 others. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

US wants Bangladesh to join Indo-Pacific Strategy – Dhaka Tribune

The United States wants Bangladesh to be part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a White House brainchild aimed at strengthening its long-term position in and commitment to the region. The IPS was established in early 2022 to partner with like-minded countries in the region, facing mounting challenges, particularly from ChinaClick here to read…

Why Chinese Foreign Minister, on first diplomatic trip to Africa, made midnight stop in Bangladesh? – Firstpost

China did not reveal much about the meeting but talking to media, Momen said during the meeting, he raised the widening trade gap with Beijing. As per reports, every year, Bangladesh imports around $13 billion worth of goods from China, while its exports to Beijing remain below $800 million. Over $12 billion deficit is of a major concern for Bangladesh considering the shaky condition of its foreign exchange reserves amid the global economic turmoil sparked by the Ukraine war. Click here to read…

Bangladesh opposition holds rally seeking PM Hasina’s resignation – Aljazeera

Thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main opposition party have rallied across Bangladeshi cities to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the formation of a caretaker government to conduct general elections. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies staged protests in the capital Dhaka and nine other cities on Wednesday, the latest of several demonstrations in recent months amid mounting anger over the rising cost of living. Click here to read…

Bhutan

31 Battalion SSB Gossaigaon conducted ‘Operations alert’ exercise along Indo Bhutan border – The Sentinel

The aim of the exercise is to detect and neutralise the insurgents and their hideouts in the forest area, revamp the security of the SSB Border outpost, monitoring the activities of suspected linkmen & other ground workers working for the militants groups and apprehending them while attempting any illegal activity, detect anti social elements, insurgents, timber smugglers, poachers in the forest area in and around the area of responsibility and to make the sense of security among the border population. Click here to read…

A need for radical policy shift – Kuensel Online

The report is damning—close to 70 percent of job seekers in Bhutan prefer to go abroad to work. This is a survey report from the employment ministry. When emigration rate is high, it indicates that something is seriously wrong with the country’s economic and employment policies. Australia is the choice for most Bhutanese today. What is worrying is that we are not just losing young talents but also a critical talent pool that helps shape our long-term national vision. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives: Backsliding on Law Reform, Free Speech – HRW

The Maldives government failed in 2022 to enact critical reforms to the justice system and counter threats to free expression. It did not address longstanding abuses against migrant workers, LGBT people, and other at-risk groups, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2023. The government carried out development projects without full consideration of environmental harm. Click here to read…

Biden applauds Maldives’ efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change – Raajje

The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden has applauded the Maldives’ efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and build resilience. The US President made the remarks during his meeting with the new Ambassador of the Maldives to the United States of America, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, after he presented his Letter of Credence to the President, on 12 December 2022. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Sham election will only prolong Myanmar civil war: Jakarta Post contributor – Strait Times

Jan 4 marked the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence. Under normal circumstances, the occasion, usually referred to as a “diamond jubilee”, would involve great celebration and joy. However, the people of Myanmar are instead dealing with a deadly war. Since illegally seizing power on Feb 1, 2021 to prevent the newly elected parliament from convening, the military junta has escalated its attacks on unarmed civilians and armed resistance forces alike. Click here to read…

Indonesia to establish office of ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar – Vietnam Plus

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on January 11 that she will head an office that Indonesia – the rotating Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, is establishing to spearhead how the bloc deals with the crisis in Myanmar. Click here to read…

Myanmar: Abuses Mount Since Military Coup – HRW

Myanmar’s junta has been responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity since the military coup in February 2021, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2023. The security forces have been implicated in mass killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians in conflict areas. Amid a post-coup economic crisis, the junta has severely hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid to communities most at risk. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal’s opposition-less Parliament – Nepali Times

Deuba’s decision to give Dahal his party’s vote of confidence has diminished NC’s role and responsibility to be a watchdog of government. For his part, Deuba remarked that his party had decided to give Dahal his party’s vote of confidence to protect the Constitution from the coalition itself, referring to Oli’s comments about dissolving Parliament. While another confidence motion cannot be called for two years, any party can exit the coalition at any time. Given the past bad blood between Oli and Dahal, there is every possibility of them falling out again, which Deuba can capitalise on. Click here to read…

Nepal and Bangladesh lobby India for corridor to trade electricity – The Kathmandu Post

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) says it has sought approval from the Indian authorities to export 40-50 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through India’s existing transmission infrastructure, in line with an agreement reached between Nepal and Bangladesh in August. The two countries in August last year had decided to request the southern neighbour to allow export of 40-50MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh in the initial phase by utilising the high-voltage Baharampur-Bheramara cross-border power transmission link. Click here to read…

Nepal, China prepare for high-level visits – The Annapurna Express

Nepal and China have also begun preparations for high-level visits in the next couple of months. A diplomatic source told ApEx that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is likely to visit China at the end of March to participate in the Boao Form for Asia. The newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has already begun diplomatic trips and he is likely to visit South Asian countries soon. The source said the Chinese foreign minister could visit Kathmandu too. A high-level Chinese delegation is also expected to visit Nepal to convey Beijing’s message to the new government. Click here to read…

Thousands rally in Nepal to seek restoration of monarchy – The Pioneer

Thousands of supporters of Nepal’s former royal family held a rally on Wednesday demanding the restoration of monarchy in the Himalayan nation. They gathered around the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who started the Shah dynasty in the 18th century. The last Shah king — Gyanendra — was forced to step down and the monarchy abolished in 2008, making Nepal a republic. There are still many supporters who seek to bring the monarchy back and rally every year on the birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan. Click here to read…

Pakistan

China pledges $100m more flood aid: The Express Tribune

China is pledging an additional $100 million to continue supporting Pakistan’s recovery efforts from the devastating 2022 floods, announced Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). Click here to read…

After much ado, Elahi proves majority: The Express Tribune

The vote of confidence that commenced after midnight concluded with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition showing majority in the provincial legislature with the support of 186 lawmakers – the minimum number of votes required to win the trust vote. Earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had announced that Elahi would take the vote “shortly”, followed by the deputy speaker validating it as well. The proceedings thus resumed and Law Minister Raja Basharat tabled the resolution in the house. Later, the members were invited to the house and the voting commenced. Click here to read…

IMF demands on power sector reforms being worked out: Ishaq Dar: The News

Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has said the government was taking action for narrowing down the path for the revival of IMF programme, including making efforts to erase the circular debt of energy sector and taking additional taxation measures without further burdening the general masses. However, Dar, in a statement, said the IMF’s demands on account of power sector reforms were being worked out. He said the circular debt of the gas sector went up at an extra speed. Now the government, he said, has worked out a plan to utilise dividends of gas companies to reduce the circular debt of the gas sector. He said the government was working on a comprehensive plan but there would be no burden on the massesClick here to read…

Sri Lanka

CPA Asia Region office to be opened in Sri Lanka – Daily News

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretary General, Stephen Twiggs expressed his deep concern over recent violent acts against Members of Parliament including the killing of an MP and offered assistance from the CPA to strengthen democracy and security of Sri Lanka Parliament, its members and staff. Click here to read…

4 Lankans arrested for stealing 4.6mn INR from car – Daily Mirror

The Police recovered more than 4.6 million (₹46.50 lakh) Indian rupees (INR) from the possession of the accused, who speak Tamil. They said that the accused live in temporary shanties in Delhi and other different states and have conducted multiple thefts in the past. Click here to read…

New Political Alliances in the making – Daily News

A petition protesting against the proposed tariff hike, reportedly signed by 6.9 million consumers of electricity, was presented to the PUCSL and accepted by its Chairman Janaka Ratnayake. The different views held by the Government and the PUCSL leaves room for much discussion and debate. With these developments emerging on several fronts, the coming weeks and months will be busy for both the Government and the Opposition, tackling not only economic issues but also the political fallout from the much anticipated Local Government elections, the first national elections since 2020. Click here to read…

As the country proceeds with the election year 2023, the military and its part Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) are gearing up for elections in 2023, while the National Unity Government is refusing to recognise the elections. The conflict continues between the military and opposition forces, and there is an increasing number of casualties and human displacement. The military court sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to another seven years of prison for corruption charges, with a total of 33 years in prison. During the month, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution asking the military to end violence and release all political prisoners. In the United States, both houses of the legislature passed the BURMA Act, which now awaits President’s approval. Further, due to “no visible progress” on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, ASEAN excluded the Defence Minister from ASEAN Defence Minister’s meeting. Though, Thailand hosted an informal meeting with Myanmar’s military leaders, along with Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Finally, after an informal ceasefire between Arakan Army and Myanmar military, India is speeding up the implementation of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, but there are increasing concerns because of human and drug trafficking across India-Myanmar borders. The major national and international developments in December 2022 are discussed in the article below.

Domestic and Political Situation

Myanmar’s military replaced village tract and ward administrators in Yangon with members of the military-backed USDP. The move comes after USDP chair U Khin Yin introduced a security framework for party members. Yangon has been the centre of conflict and has witnessed brutal crackdowns and mass arrests of protesters. The details of the replacement were leaked from the Yangon General Administration Department, which stated the department had permitted to replace 72 village tract and ward administrators and 292 hundred-household heads.^[1] China has also launched an outreach to assist the USDP ahead of the elections.

On the other hand, Duwa Lashi La, the acting president of the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG), in an interview with Khmer Times, refused to recognise the elections and claimed that NUG is in control of 60 per cent of the country. He condemned the military Government’s acts of violence and called for ASEAN and other international communities to give them the same support they have been providing to Ukraine. However, he also added that there is room for negotiation and political dialogue but only when the military recognises its fault and “there is punishment for those who committed the hideous crimes”.

Major clashes were reported during the month. The military carried out a three-day attack on Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) base located in Laukkai Township, Shan State. The troops blocked roads and set up checkpoints to search vehicles entering and exiting Laukkai. In 2021, the MNDAA—as part of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee—met with representatives of the Myanmar military, but the agenda and results of the meeting were not disclosed. However, a few days later, the military launched a major offensive against the group in Muse Township. ^[2]

The opposition forces also carried out attacks on the military. On 17 December, the resistance forces attacked a military air base in Yangon’s Hmawbi Township. Hmawbi People’s Defence Force (PDF) and allied resistance groups claimed responsibility for the attack. Since the coup, the military regime has escalated its airstrikes against PDFs, ethnic armed organisations and civilian targets. As the PDFs lacked anti-aircraft missiles, they started targeting military air bases in Yangon, Mandalay and Magwe regions.^[3] Incidents were also reported in Kachin and Mon states and Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions.^[4] The military also suffered heavy casualties in clashes with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Shan State starting on 07 December. After six days of fighting, TNLA gained control of four villages from the military. Later, Myanmar clarified that it was targeting the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), not the TNLA, and on 17 December, the two sides reached an agreement^[5]

In addition, the military is reportedly resupplying its troops in Rakhine State despite an informal ceasefire between the Arakan Army and the military. Furthermore, despite lifting travel restrictions, the regime continues to block the Ponnagyun-Rathedaung and Minbya-Myebon roads and waterways in Ann Township. ^[6] The NUG, on the other hand, invited more people to join the revolution. In the latest call to soldiers, police and civil servants, the NUG asked them to join the revolution as informants if they can’t defect. The NUG issued the invitation because intelligence needs are growing as the revolution accelerates. NUG’s statement promised protection of the Ministry of Defence and rewards for informants depending on the level of information sent. However, this also raises concerns as now the regime would further tighten restrictions on telecoms and closely monitor phone and internet use among its members.^[7]

While the conflicts and violence continue, the military has extended its ceasefire agreement with Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) until the end of 2023. The agreement was extended to boost the peace process in Myanmar.^[8] On the contrary, the seven ethnic armed organisations, which are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), failed to arrange an informal meeting with Myanmar’s regime. The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), New Mon State Party, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KPC), Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO) and Lahu Democratic Union on 07 December proposed a meeting with Lieutenant General Yar Pyae, Chairman of the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee. Meanwhile, the Karen National Union (KNU), which is a signatory to the NCA but fighting the regime, said it has no plans to hold talks.^[9]

During the month, the final hearings of the Aung San Suu Kyi case were held, and she was sentenced to 33 years of prison in total. In the recent hearing, she was sentenced to seven years on five charges of corruption, thereby totalling 33 years in prison. ^[10] Meanwhile, in her first public comments, she said she was proud of young Burmese people and all those struggling to defend and fight for democracy. The message was shared via her Australian former economic adviser, Sean Turnell, who was released by the regime in November 2021. In an interview with News 10, he said he met Suu Kyi when they were sentenced.^[11]

The month also marked the celebration of the founding of the Myanmar Air Force and Navy. The Chairman of the State Planning and Administration Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, General Min Aung Hlaing, opened the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Myanmar Air Force and Navy, in which new aircraft and helicopters were commissioned into service. The major attraction this year was the acquisition of the Sukhoi Su-30SME fourth-generation multi-purpose fighter aircraft.^[12] In addition to the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence celebrations in January 2023, the State Administration Council issued two types of new gold coins; a tical and a half-tical (one tical is approximately equivalent to 16.33 grams).^[13]

Economic and Social Situation

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, divested from Yoma Bank after its business with military companies was exposed, according to Justice For Myanmar (JFM). In 2020, Yoma Bank extended a loan to Pinnacle Asia, a Myanmar company owned by Khin Thiri Thet Mon, daughter of military chief Min Aung Hlaing. The loan funded the company’s construction of telecom towers for the military-owned mobile operator, Mytel. IFC has now sold its 4.5 percent stake in Yoma Bank to First Myanmar Investment (FMI) for USD 5 million.^[14]

As a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, there has reportedly been a rise in the cost of fertilisers leading to a shortage in the production of food in Myanmar. Myanmar farmers rely on imported fertiliser, and its rising international prices, along with the devaluation of the kyat, have driven up the prices of agricultural inputs. The International Food Policy Research Institute reported that Myanmar’s rice productivity dropped 2.1per cent during last year’s monsoon season. Yields declined significantly in Kayah and Chin states, both affected by conflict and high costs of inputs. IFPRI said the prices of fertiliser based on urea increased by 56per cent and the mechanisation costs rose by 19 per cent, while the paddy prices at the farm rose by just 8per cent. In a separate survey of millers, IFPRI reported that 91per cent of the millers stated limited access to electricity and affordable fuel as their most significant disruptions, leading to a decline in output by 20per cent. However, the regime’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation said that the country was sufficiently producing, and the country expects to grow over 17 million acres of paddy in the current fiscal year.^[15]

As a result of continued violent attacks, Myanmar nationals have travelled across waters to reach a safe place. This month Sri Lanka Navy rescued 104 distressed Myanmar nationals aboard a passenger vessel in Sri Lanka’s waters. The distressed vessel is reported to have trespassed due to a mechanical failure while it was carrying passengers from Myanmar to Indonesia.^[16] Malaysia, on the other hand, lifted the stay on deportation of Myanmar nationals. The court lifted a stay on the deportation of 114 Myanmar nationals, clearing the legal obstacles to their deportation and raising concerns about the likely threats to their safety if sent back to Myanmar. In February 2021, the Malaysian court imposed a stay to delay the deportation of 1,200 Myanmar nationals, which the government ignored. Despite the High Court imposing a temporary stay, the government deported 1,086 people. The 114 were left behind in immigration detention because they had tested positive for COVID-19.^[17]

During the month, three more Burmese journalists were sentenced to prison. The latest victim is Soe Yarzar Tun, a Yangon-based freelancer who was sentenced by the special court inside Yangon’s Insein prison on 16 December to four years in prison with hard labour under Section 52 (a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.^[18] While the cases of human trafficking have increased across Myanmar borders, Brigadier General Aung Htay Myint, head of the Transnational Crime Division, reported that they successfully prevented 81 cases of human trafficking, helping a total of 840 people between 2020 and 2021. He revealed the information during the 5th inter-ministerial meeting of the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking – COMMIT, which took on via video link at the Myanmar Police Force headquarters. The meeting was attended by representatives from COMMIT countries — Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam and officials from the COMMIT Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Thailand, and the member countries discussed the development of the Transn,ational Referral Mechanism (TRM) and the designing of a Mekong sub-regional work plan.a href=”#_edn19″ name=”_ednref19″>^[19]

International Developments

The major development during the month was the adoption of the resolution on Myanmar by the United Nations Security Council. On 21 December, the 15-member council adopted a resolution which demanded an end to violence and called on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. 12 members voted in favour, but India, China and Russia abstained. The resolution was first tabled in September 2021 by the United Kingdom. The language of the resolution was widely debated to avoid any veto against it from Russia and China.^[20]

The Myanmar military, however, rejected the resolution and accused the UNSC of trying to “destabilise” the country. The military released a statement which stated that the resolution includes “several intrusive elements on Myanmar’s internal affairs that contravene the principles and purposes of the United Nations” and instead claimed that the situation in Myanmar was “solely internal affairs” of the country and “in no way poses any risk to international peace and security.” ^[21] During the month, the United Nations General Assembly Credentials Committee agreed to uphold the status of Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun as the permanent representative of Myanmar to the United Nations. Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed to his position in 2020, but since the military takeover, the military has made numerous attempts to remove him from this position.^[22]

Another major international development was the passing of the BURMA Act by both houses of the United States (US) legislature as part of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA). The act aims to provide non-military aid to the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) and its affiliate organisations, including the National Unity Consultative Council, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and ethnic armed organisations (EAO). The Burma Act also authorises measures to prevent the military regime from acquiring weapons and expands sanctions against military businesses. The act authorises political support for establishing federalism, as well as humanitarian aid and technical support for anti-military forces. It also promises action against perpetrators of war crimes. The NDAA will help the Myanmar people if brought into law after signing by US President Joe Biden.^[23] The US also included Myanmar on the list of 12 countries that are of “particular concern” for religious freedom violations. They reported that the Christian minorities now face persecution similar to what the Rohingya have faced. ^[24]

Canada became the first country to impose sanctions on Myanmar military jet fuel suppliers, Asia Sun Group, a Myanmar conglomerate. Asia Sun Group is a local partner of the Myanmar military and is involved in procuring, storing and distributing jet fuel. Asia Sun Group’s role in the Myanmar military’s jet fuel supply chain was detailed in the Amnesty International report, Deadly Cargo, with research supported by Justice For Myanmar. In the past few months, the military conducted indiscriminate airstrikes to wage war against anti-military revolutions. Canada also sanctioned key Myanmar military arms brokers, Dynasty International Company Limited and International Gateways Group. The groups have also been sanctioned by the US and UK.^[25]

The European Union also excluded Myanmar from the representation at the meeting in Brussels with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 14 December. Since the coup, the EU has imposed rounds of sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing and military-controlled conglomerates and companies, the latest ones being in November 2022.^[26] In addition, the EU has allocated around 6.5 million Euros for the support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its efforts to tackle the humanitarian food crisis in Myanmar.^[27]
Furthermore, ASEAN excluded Myanmar from the ASEAN Defence Minister’s meeting. Defence Minister from major ASEAN events due to “no visible progress” on the implementation of the 5PC<^[28] Even Prak Sokhonn, ASEAN’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, cancelled his third announced trip to the country. While it is reported that the visit is cancelled due to time constraints as he has to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, it rather reflects growing tensions between the regional bloc and Myanmar’s military regime.^[29] However, Thailand, in contrast, has tried to maintain relations with the military as usual. Thailand hosted interested members of ASEAN to an open-ended consultative meeting on the situation in Myanmar on 22 December. Government ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam met with military representatives to “find pathways towards a return to normalcy”. Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin attended along with Kan Zaw, Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, and Ko Ko Hlaing, Minister for International Cooperation. However, the meeting was not attended by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.^[30] Later the NUG strongly urged ASEAN not to waver from its policy of excluding the country’s military leaders from its meetings.^[31]

Furthermore, Thailand’s newly appointed Ambassador to Myanmar, Mongkol Visitstump, presented his credentials to the State Administration Council and Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing on 07 December. He discussed a wide range of issues in bilateral ties, including trade, investment and tourism. The ambassador later met with Soe Win and discussed the long-delayed Dawei Deep Sea project.^[32] Thailand also did not officially open any temporary safe zones along the border and did not make any official records of new refugees arriving from Myanmar, further pushing back the Myanmar nationals into the country.

China’s engagement with the Myanmar military gets closer as China delivered six FTC-2000G fighter jets to the regime’s air force. The six fighter jets are currently being checked over at Meiktila airbase in Mandalay Region. The deal for the fighter jets was signed in January 2022, with each fighter plane costing about USD 9 million. Pilots, engineers and armament officers of the Myanmar Air Force visited China in June 2022. These visits relate to the training of the MAF personnel.^[33] The month also witnessed the visit of Pakistan Colonel Imran Khan to Myanmar to discuss military cooperation. The two-day visit was from 29 November-01 December. A 10-member team from the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) is currently in Pakistan undergoing training on precision targeting in air operations and on the JF-17 jet fighter.^[34]

Moreover, on 02 December, a forum on China-Myanmar economic cooperation was held to enhance economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. The forum was organised by the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) with the theme “China’s New Development and China-Myanmar Cooperation”. According to Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce, during the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year, China was Myanmar’s largest trading partner.^[35] Also, the China-funded Kyaukphyu Anargat (Future) Mobile Clinic project in Myanmar’s Rakhine State entered its final stage in December. The project is already providing free healthcare services to around 1,500 villagers.^[36]

During the month, the second Russian trade delegation visited Myanmar to boost bilateral economic ties. Russian economic development minister Maxim Reshetnikov met Min Aung Hlaing and his ministers and signed seven agreements. Min Aung Hlaing and Reshetnikov discussed technical cooperation in arable and livestock farming and iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, mining and energy production. They also discussed the formation of Myanmar-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Associations in Myanmar and plans to boost bilateral cultural cooperation. In addition, the third Intergovernmental Russian-Myanmar Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in Naypyidaw.^[37]

India and Myanmar

After the informal ceasefire between Arakan Army and Myanmar military, India is pushing for the finalisation of its transport project linking the two countries. Indian Consul Jay Krishna met military-appointed Rakhine State Chief Minister Dr Aung Kyaw Min and discussed the official opening of the Sittwe seaport and its Kaladan River route inland through Rakhine’s Kyauktaw to Paletwa in Chin State. They also discussed the incomplete section of the project — a two-lane highway running 109 kilometres from Paletwa to Zorinpui on the Myanmar-India border. The sea-river-road transport route will link Kolkata with Sittwe Port over the Bay of Bengal.^[38]

During the month, the Assam Rifles seized 600 Kg of Brown Sugar in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar.^[39] Given the rise in the number of seizures along the India-Myanmar border, the Manipur government stated that it set up more outposts. Manipur Chief Minister inaugurated the Sangaithel police outpost in Imphal West district and said that more outposts would also be set up along the India-Myanmar border to check illegal immigration, smuggling activities, and cross-border crimes.^[40] The Indian Government is also planning to fence a few spaces of the India-Myanmar border, but several local organisations from Manipur are raising objections against the scheme. The issue was raised in the Indian Parliament on 14 December by Manipur’s representative, Leishemba Sanajaoba. The United Committee Manipur (UCM), an apex body of 32 civil society organisations in Manipur, warned that an agitation opposing the move would be launched if the government goes ahead with the fencing project. The UCM alleged that Myanmar had encroached around 5 km into Manipur along Border Pillar 103 after a visit to the spot by a team of the apex body. According to the annual report of the Indian Home Ministry, only 136 km at the Lohit sub-sector in Arunachal Pradesh and 35 km at Kabaw Valley in Manipur are “undemarcated”.^[41]

Way Forward

Marking World Human Rights Day, 08 December 2022, Tom Andrews, the UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar, urged the world countries to take robust actions for the people of Myanmar. There have also been calls for the British government to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, as it did with Ukraine. ^[42] As Myanmar inches closer to the elections in 2023, it is important that all stakeholders are involved in the discussion to conduct free and fair elections. The increasing violence and conflict between the military and opposition forces are creating humanitarian loss and economic and social harm to citizens, which needs immediate attention. Myanmar itself needs to find solutions within its own social and political structures to address this crisis.

Endnotes :

^[1]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-militarys-proxy-usdp-taking-control-of-yangon-administrations.html
^[2] he MNDAA is also a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army. https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/military-launches-major-assault-on-kokang-base-on-china-myanmar-border
^[3]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-military-air-base-in-yangon-attacked-by-resistance-for-second-time.html
^[4] https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/myanmar-resistance-inflicts-more-casualties-on-junta-forces.html
^[5]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-calls-taang-army-battle-a-misunderstanding.html
^[6]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/rakhine-ceasefire-enables-myanmar-junta-to-resupply-troops.html
^[7]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/nug-issues-appeal-for-more-myanmar-junta-informants.html
^[8]https://en.vietnamplus.vn/myanmar-extends-ceasefire-until-end-of-2023/246438.vnp
^[9]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-snubs-pro-regime-armed-groups-call-for-peace-talks.html
^[10]https://www.outlookindia.com/international/aung-san-suu-kyi-sentenced-to-33-year-prison-by-myanmar-court-what-are-the-many-corruption-charges-news-249716
^[11]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/myanmars-daw-aung-san-suu-kyi-praises-young-anti-junta-resistance-fighters.html
^[12] https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/myanmar-air-force-day
^[13]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-navy-handed-five-vessels-to-attack-resistance-groups.html
^[14]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/ifc-divests-from-yoma-bank-after-myanmar-military-links-exposed.html
^[15]https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/high-production-costs-deny-farmers-benefits-of-high-rice-prices/
^[16]https://srilankamirror.com/uncategorized/sl-navy-rescues-104-distressed-myanmar-nationals/
^[17]https://thediplomat.com/2022/12/malaysian-court-lifts-stay-on-deportation-of-myanmar-nationals/
^[18]https://rsf.org/en/rsf-calls-tougher-sanctions-against-myanmar-s-junta-after-three-more-journalists-get-prison
^[19]https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/12/18/81-human-trafficking-cases-prevented-in-myanmar-between-2020-and-2021
^[20]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/22/un-security-council-resolution-demands-end-to-myanmar-violence
^[21]https://www.laprensalatina.com/myanmar-junta-says-un-resolution-aimed-at-destabilizing-country/
^[22]https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-s-un-ambassador-reportedly-renewed-for-another-year-despite-junta-s-opposition/6873801.html
^[23]https://www.irrawaddy.com/in-person/interview/uss-burma-act-is-an-ultimatum-to-myanmar-regime.html
^[24]The other eleven countries on the blacklist are China, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua and North Korea for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act 1998. https://www.ucanews.com/news/myanmar-remains-on-us-religious-freedom-blacklist/99631
^[25]https://www.mizzima.com/article/canada-sanctions-myanmar-jet-fuel-suppliers
^[26]https://thediplomat.com/2022/12/europe-and-asean-should-work-together-on-myanmar-crisis/
^[27]https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/wfp-says-it-received-7mln-from-eu-to-tackle-1606407.html
^[28]https://www.khmertimeskh.com/1197603/new-narrative-nug-claims-it-controls-60-of-myanmar/
^[29]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/the-world-myanmar/asean-envoy-scraps-planned-third-visit-to-myanmar.html
^[30]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/the-world-myanmar/thailand-to-host-non-asean-meeting-on-myanmar.html
^[31]https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-junta-minister-attend-talks-hosted-by-thailand-key-asean-players-absent-2022-12-22/
^[32]https://www.thaipbsworld.com/prayut-government-maintained-close-ties-with-myanmar-junta-in-2022-despite-repression/
^[33]Designed and manufactured by Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation under the supervision of state-owned aerospace and defence firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the FTC-2000G is a light multi-role trainer and combat aircraft. It is capable of carrying up to 3 tons of missiles, rockets or bombs and is tasked mainly with airstrikes against ground targets, according to aerospace news portal Defence World. It can also be used for flight training, aerial surveillance, patrol missions, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, close-in air support, and air escort missions. The FTC-2000G is in service with the Navy and Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army and costs US$8.5 million per unit. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-takes-delivery-of-ftc-2000g-fighter-jets-from-china.html
^[34]The training is believed to be an attempt to fix the problems that have left the MAF’s JF-17s grounded due to technical malfunctions. Myanmar bought 16 JF-17s from China. The first batch of six aircraft was delivered in 2018, but details about the delivery date for the other 10 remain unclear. Myanmar was the first country to buy the JF-17. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-and-pakistan-boost-military-ties.html
^[35]https://english.news.cn/20221203/05b83243386b4a4b85fe0f559ee10d22/c.html
^[36]Designed by the China International Trust Investment Corporation (CITIC) Consortium and funded by the Yunnan Aid, the mobile clinic project was being implemented by the local civil society organisation Kyaukphyu Socio-Economic Development Assistance Association (KSEDAA) https://english.news.cn/20221225/901aae31441645598734361054399504/c.html
^[37]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/the-world-myanmar/russian-trade-delegation-signs-seven-agreements-with-myanmar-junta.html
^[38]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/india-and-myanmar-junta-using-rakhine-truce-to-finalize-trade-corridor.html
^[39]https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-assam-rifles-seizes-rs-42-lakh-worth-drugs-along-indo-myanmar-border.html
^[40]https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1033549
^[41]https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/civil-society-groups-in-indias-manipur-oppose-plan-to-fence-part-of-border-with-myanmar.html
^[42]https://www.mizzima.com/article/un-official-denounces-international-double-standards-over-myanmar-and-ukraine

Afghanistan

Afghanistan, Uzbekistan Settle New Electricity Agreement Amid Winter Shortages – The Diplomat

Under the new agreement, Uzbekistan will supply Afghanistan with 450 megawatts of electricity during the winter as both countries suffer from outages. Perhaps the first foreign official to arrive in Tashkent in 2023 was the Taliban’s Acting Energy and Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansour, who traveled north on January 1 and returned to Kabul the next day with an agreement on the export of electricity to Afghanistan from Uzbekistan. Click here to read…

ISKP Possess a Major Threat to Taliban’s Authority in Afghanistan: Report – Republic World

The regional affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province is engaged in a power tussle with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban is ironically seeking international support in order to contain terrorism and improve its record pertaining to human rights, the Afghan Diaspora Network reported. As per reports, ISKP aims to threaten the Taliban’s efforts to establish diplomatic relations with international organizations such as the United Nations and various NGOs in the region. Click here to read…

Pakistan announces new restrictions on transit of Afghan commodities – Devdiscourse

Pakistan has imposed new restrictions on the transit of Afghan commodities, the Joint Chamber of Afghanistan-Pakistan Commerce on Monday said, Tolo News reported. The new restrictions announced by Islamabad will create hurdles for traders to transfer their products through Karachi port. Najibullah Safi, head of the Joint Chamber, said that the Pakistan government has increased the invoice of commodities, including tyres, electric devices, medicines and oil and sugar. As per the news report, Afghanistan imports its commodities from China, Indonesia, India and European nations through Karachi port. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Adani Godda Power Plant: Bangladesh likely to get 750MW by March – The Daily Star

Bangladesh will start getting electricity from India’s Adani Godda Power Plant in March, said Nasrul Hamid, the state minister for power, energy and mineral resources. According to the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board and Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd on the import of 1,600MW electricity, the first unit of the power plant (750MW) was supposed to be in operation on January 5 last year. Click here to read…

Bangladesh to import 1 lakh tonnes of rice from India, Singapore –New Age

The government is going to procure 1 lakh tonnes of non-basmati rice to bolster the supply chain of the country’s main staple food against the backdrop of high inflation. Two suppliers — one each from India and Singapore —have been selected by the food ministry through international tenders for supplying the amount of rice equally – 50,000 tonnes from per supplier – at a total estimated cost of Tk 423 crore, said the food ministry officials. Click here to read…

India eyes Bangladesh as market for range of military hardware – Hindustan Times

During recent visits to India, Bangladesh Air Force personnel visited facilities where such aircraft are maintained, the people said. Bangladesh Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, toured facilities in Chandigarh and Mumbai during a visit to India in December 2021Click here to read…

Bhutan

Hand to mouth if not poor – Kuensel Online

The poverty analysis report found out that 80,614 Bhutanese are poor or living below the poverty line of Nu 6,204 per person per month. At 12.4 percent, the poverty rate is a cause of concern. It is high and comes at a time when the country is said to be making rapid progress to graduate from the club of least developed countries to a middle-income level country by the end of this year. Although the criteria for graduation are Gross National Income per capita, Human Assets Index and Economic Vulnerability Index – meeting at least two of the thresholds in two consecutive triennial reviews, poverty is included among the last mile challenges identified with education and health. Click here to read…

Maldives

Three China airlines announce plans to resume Maldives flight routes – Edition

Three airlines from China have announced their plans to resume flight routes to the Maldives. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) revealed that Hong Kong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Beijing Capital have announced their plans to resume flights once more. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Airlines has already acquired flight slots from January 1 through the end of March. The airline is expected to operate three weekly flights. Click here to read…

Maldives economy bounces back to pre-COVID-19 levels – Avas

The Maldives’ economy has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has announced. The minister’s announcement comes as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a statement after a staff visit to the Maldives that the Maldives’ economy is growing rapidly. Minister Ameer Sunday said the economy was brought back to pre-COVID-19 levels due to the strong measures taken to overcome the pandemic and the results of the government’s economic policy. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar junta marks Independence Day with show of force in military-built capital – Channel News Asia

Myanmar troops and weaponry paraded through the military-built capital Naypyidaw to mark the country’s Independence Day on Wednesday (Jan 4), days after the junta jailed democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi for 33 years. Swathes of the Southeast Asian country have been engulfed by fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels since the military seized power almost two years ago. Click here to read…

Myanmar Crisis among Indonesia’s Challenges as ASEAN Chair – The Irrawaddy

Over the course of 25 years of democratic transformation that followed the Suharto era, whenever Indonesia served as the ASEAN chair, new ideas and plans seemed to mushroom. The ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) are the latest examples of the ways in which Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, has sought to shape the future of the regional organization, of which Jakarta is one of the founding fathers. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Prepares for Name Change as End of Emergency Rule Looms – The Irrawaddy

Two years of emergency rule declared by Myanmar’s military after seizing power from an elected civilian government will end on Jan. 31. The expiry of emergency rule prompts the question of whether the military regime will hand power back to acting president U Myint Swe. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will no doubt make moves to maintain the military’s grip on power ahead of its plan for a so-called election in August. According to sources in Naypyitaw, the regime is likely to form a “transition council” in which U Myint Swe will play a role. Click here to read…

Nepal

Indian Agnipath Scheme And Its Nepalese Conundrum – News18

Now that the new government has been formed in Nepal with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, it will shape the national policies in days to come including the direction of the bilateral relationship with India. One of the policies will include accepting the Agnipath scheme as a new model of recruitment. India is principally right to extend the same terms and conditions to Nepalese citizens for recruitment, as has been done for Indian citizens without any caste, creed, or religious and regional considerations. The current prime minister of Nepal, having been part of Maoist ideology, has to be much more sensitive before a decision is taken in this regard. Click here to read…

Nepal-China: Border is open, not the trade – The Annapurna Express

After nearly three years of disturbances, China on Dec 28 opened the Rasuwagadi border point even for exports of Nepali goods in line with the end of China’s ‘Zero Covid’ policy. Chinese officials in Kathmandu have said more two-way trade routes will be opened in 2023. “The two-way trade at the Pulan/Yari port will resume in early 2023. This will provide an opportunity for Nepali exporters to export more goods to China,” said Wang Xin, Charge de Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu addressing the inauguration program of Pokhara Regional International Airport on Sunday. Click here to read…

Nepal Telecom postpones 5G trials, says there aren’t enough devices – RCRWireless

State-owned Nepal Telecom has postponed its 5G trial by several weeks, citing a dearth of compatible mobile devices. Specifically, the carrier will conduct its trial using the 2.6 GHz airwaves that it obtained from telecom regulator Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). But, according to Nepal Telecom, not enough devices in the country support this frequency. Click here to read…

Nepali farmers line up to sell paddy while imports surge – The Kathmandu Post

As per Birgunj Customs, Rs5.25 billion worth of Indian paddy entered Nepal between November 21 and December 30. Nepali farmers endured a chemical fertiliser shortage during the paddy transplantation period in June. They began harvesting their crops in November, and now they are facing another hardship—selling them. Nepali farmers are expected to harvest 5.48 million tonnes of paddy this fiscal year, which is 7 percent more than last year, despite a crippling shortage of chemical fertiliser during the key transplantation period in the monsoon. Click here to read…

CPN (US) to intensify process of unifying leftists – The Himalayan

Deputy General Secretary and Head of Propaganda Department Jagannath Khatiwada informed that the party’s Politburo meeting today gave responsibility to the party’s central secretariat to take concrete initiatives on left-wing unity, cooperation and building a front. The party has become a prisoner of indecision regarding the government. The standing committee and politburo meeting that was held for four days failed to form any opinion about the government. Instead, it became a prisoner of indecision and handed over the responsibility to the secretariat. Click here to read…

Pakistan

TTP challenges Pakistan’s sovereignty, declares own government – First Post

In a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Pakistan government and the country’s military establishment led by the Pakistan Army, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – also known as the Pakistan Taliban – has announced the formation of its own government in northern Pakistan and has even declared the formation of various ministries. “Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced its new appointments dividing the outfit into various ministries, Defence, Judiciary, Information, Political affairs, Economic Affairs, Education, a fatwa issuing authority, Intelligence and a department for construction,” the TTP said in a statement as quoted by its mouthpiece The Khorasan Diary (TKD) publication. Click here to read…

Two Pakistan intelligence officers gunned down in Punjab province – Al Jazeera

No one has claimed responsibility for killing the officers, who were known for arresting members of the Pakistani Taliban and other armed groups. They were also known for their expertise in investigating and solving complicated cases, including gun and bomb attacks in Pakistan. Click here to read…

India-Kabul Ties: As Taliban & Pakistan Draw Swords, Can Delhi Maintain Stand? – The Quint

Certainly, growing Pakistan-Taliban animosity is good news for India. But it should tread carefully. When others were rushing to establish ties with the Taliban, India held back. Now, as International disenchantment with the Taliban grows, India should carefully calibrate its moves and desist from any unilateral actions vis-à-vis the militant group. Click here to read…

Pakistan shuts markets in evenings under energy conservation plan – The Indian Express

Pakistan government has ordered all malls and markets to close by 8:30 p.m, among other measures in a new energy conservation plan. The defence minister said this on Tuesday, as the country grapples with an economic crisis. The country’s foreign exchange reserve levels barely cover a month’s worth of imports, most of which are accounted for by energy purchases from abroad, with funds expected under an International Monetary Fund programme having been delayed. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka moving in right direction, top UN official says – ADA

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja has applauded the plans that are underway for Sri Lanka’s social and political development. Click here to read…

Funding election under prevailing economic situation, a problem – Daily Mirror

Total state revenue is hardly sufficient to pay salaries and pensions of public servants and interest on Govt. loans; Allocation of Rs. 10 billion to the Election Commission from the interim budget 2022 cannot be brought forward to 2023; the government has no intention whatsoever to postpone LG polls as suggested by the opposition, the aragalaya and trade unionsClick here to read…

How did loss-making Sri Lankan, CPC pay bonuses? Daily News

President calls for explanation from Chairmen; CPC spends Rs. 1,200 million on bonuses; Each SriLankan employee got Rs.100, 000; Sri Lankan spends Rs.580 million on bonuses; some big wigs get more than Rs. one million as bonus. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Reactions Continue to Closure of Universities for Women: Tolo News

The closure of universities for women has faced continuous reactions within and outside the country. On Thursday morning, dozens of female students held a protest near the Kabul University in the west of Kabul, calling for women and girls’ access to education and work. The European Union in a statement called the decision another violation of international obligations and said it constitutes an institutionalized and systematic “discrimination against women and girls.” Click here to read…

Ukraine’s Zelensky Urges U.S. Congress for More Military Support: The Khaama Press

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jetted to Washington, DC, for talks with his American counterpart President Joe Biden and top-ranking American authorities face-to-face for the first time since his country came under Russian invasion in February. President Volodymyr Zelensky told the U.S. Congress that aid to Ukraine was an investment in democracy and “not charity” as he invoked American battles against the Nazis in World War Two to press for more assistance for his country’s war effort. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Shahriar, Sherman talk polls, security of US embassy personnel: Dhaka Tribune

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke on the phone with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Shahriar Alam on Thursday. The two discussed strengthening US-Bangladesh relations, the importance of holding free and fair elections, and the safety and security of US embassy personnel, according to US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said there is nothing to worry about when it comes to the security of foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Export prices up by over 7 percent in the third quarter: Kuensel

The export prices of goods rose by 7.29 percent in the third quarter (July to September) this year compared to the figure in the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Bureau’s report released yesterday. This means, if the price of the exported goods was Nu 100 in the third quarter of last year, the exporters had sold it at Nu 107.29 in the same quarter this year. However, an increase in the export prices was outweighed by a higher increase in import prices. The import prices or inflation recorded an increase of 18.54 percent in the quarter. Click here to read…

Maldives

Tariff on fish exports will be eliminated within two months: Nasheed: Avas

Parliament Speaker and President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed, has said the duty imposed on Maldivian fish products exported to the UK will be eliminated within the next two months.

Nasheed, who is currently abroad, made the announcement via a tweet on Wednesday night.
In his tweet, Nasheed said his close acquaintances in the UK government had assured that the duty on fish imported from the Maldives to the UK would be cut within the next two months at the latest. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Thailand hosts Myanmar junta figures in talks, key ASEAN nations skip: Reuters

Thailand hosted regional talks on Thursday to discuss the crisis in army-run Myanmar including rare international appearances by junta ministers, but several key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations did not attend despite invitations. Foreign ministers of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and Vietnam’s deputy foreign minister joined the talks hosted by Thailand’s foreign minister, according to Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Punjab governor de-notifies CM: The Express Tribune

A notification issued by the Governor House after midnight said that Chief Minister Elahi ceased to hold the office immediately while the provincial cabinet stood dissolved. However, it added that Elahi would continue under Article 133 of the Constitution until a new chief minister was elected by the provincial assembly. “I am satisfied that he [Chief Minister Elahi] does not command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Punjab Assembly and, therefore, ceases to hold his office with immediate effect,” the governor said in his order. “In consequence of the above, the provincial cabinet stands dissolved forthwith,” the order added. Click here to read…

Banned TTP is Pakistan’s red line, Bilawal tells Afghan Taliban: The News

Speaking to the media at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, Bilawal Bhutto said: “We will not ignore if we find out that Taliban are not stopping the TTP.” Expressing his concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country due to rising TTP attacks from the Afghan soil, Bilawal said if the Taliban carry out operations against the extremists, Pakistan will provide help, if needed. He said that there was no new agreement on cooperation with the US for anti-terrorism. “We urge to release frozen funds for the Afghan people not for the Taliban. They [Taliban] promised with the US and the world to take action against the extremist groups,” said Bilawal. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Finance Minisry to hand over customs confiscated vehicles to police: Daily Mirror

Necessary arrangements have been made to hand over the vehicles confiscated by Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) to be used for raids by the Sri Lanka Police Department, including drug prevention, State Finance Minister Ranjith Siambalapitiya said. He said this while participating in an inspection visit on Monday (20) at the Hambantota port premises to monitor the relevant vehicles currently parked at the port. He mentioned that some vehicles confiscated due to illegal importation have been at the port for about seven years. Click here to read…