Afghanistan

Taliban Tell Pakistan Not to Blame Afghanistan for Mosque Bombing – VOA News

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers Wednesday rejected allegations their territory was used in this week’s mosque bombing in Pakistan, urging the neighboring country to thoroughly investigate such terror acts before blaming others. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told a gathering in the capital, Kabul, that Pakistani officials should find a solution to their security challenges locally and desist from “sowing the seeds of enmity” between the two Muslim countries. Click here to read…

Afghanistan Ranks 150th on Corruption Perception Index – Tolo News

In a recent report released by Transparency International, Afghanistan was ranked 150 in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in 2022 out of 180 countries. According to the report, Afghanistan has climbed 24 places compared to 2021 when the country was ranked 174 out of 180 countries. Somalia was ranked as the most corrupt nation in the world. Click here to read…

Dam inaugurated in Afghanistan – DT Next

Afghan authorities have inaugurated a dam in Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province to irrigate more than 700 hectares of land, provincial governor Mawlawi Qudratullah Abu Hamza said on Wednesday. The reservoir, which was officially inaugurated and put into use on Tuesday, stores 450,000 cubic meters of water and would facilitate farmers to irrigate more than 700 hectares of land in Tana Sah area and its vicinity, the official was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. Click here to read…

Budget 2023: Development aid for war-torn Afghanistan unchanged, cuts for Sri Lanka & Myanmar – The Print

Allocation to external affairs ministry for development assistance to foreign countries & projects fell 13% to estimated Rs 5,848.58 crore from Rs 6,750 crore in FY23. In Union Budget 2023-24, India has left development assistance to war-torn Afghanistan unchanged (Budget estimates). Meanwhile, aid to cash-strapped Sri Lanka and junta-ruled Myanmar’s was cut by 25 per cent and 33 per cent respectively. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Ever-strengthening India-Bangladesh relations – The Print

India and Bangladesh share not only close historical, civilisational and cultural links but have also forged strong social, economic and political ties over decades since Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971. United by a shared history and common heritage, linguistic and cultural links, fervour for arts, music and literature, and strong people-to-people ties, the two countries share a unique camaraderie and friendship. Click here to read…

AL, Jamaat demanded caretaker govt: BNP – NewAge

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Wednesday that they were demanding the caretaker government system, as it was also the demand of the then-opposition Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami during the party’s tenure in 1996. Click here to read…

Is Bangladesh getting tired of hosting Rohingya refugees? – Dhaka Tribune

In 2017, Bangladesh welcomed fellow Muslims from Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state to the southern coastal community of Cox’s Bazar with open arms, food and shelter.
Despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in the already overcrowded settlements for decades, they didn’t have to think twice about accommodating the new surge of people, albeit into an already overcrowded area of Bangladesh. Attempts to repatriate the Rohingya refugees have failed due to unstable conditions in Myanmar. As such, they have become victims of the worst refugee crisis in the last 50 years. Click here to read…

Bhutan

In Neighbourhood, Bhutan Receives Largest Share Of Aid At Rs 2,400 Crore In Finance Budget – ABP News

Bhutan received the largest share of India’s aid pegged at Rs 2,400 crore in the Finance Budget 2023-24, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earmarked Rs 990 crore for India’s G20 Presidency that began on December 1, 2022. In line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the largest share of India’s aid portfolio is towards Bhutan, which constituted 41.04 per cent of the development assistance by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Click here to read…

GoI to facilitate concessional rate on the third internet gateway – Kuensel Online

The Government of India (GoI) would be facilitating a special concessional rate on the third international internet gateway for Bhutan as per the Bhutan government’s request. Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela said this during the technology roundtable yesterday. Click here to read…

Maldives

Commonwealth Secretary-General & Maldives FM arrive in SL – Sri Lanka Mirror

Secretary General of the Commonwealth – Patricia Scotland and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid have arrived in Sri Lanka today (01) to attend the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Independence of Sri Lanka. They were warmly received by State Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tharaka Balasuriya. Click here to read…

“India has been one of the most trusted and valued partners of Maldives” – Raajje

India has proven to be one of the most trusted and valued friend of Maldives during challenging times, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. President Solih stated this on Tuesday, while speaking at the official reception held at Dharubaaruge to commemorate the 74th Republic Day of India. In his remarks, the President stated that the Maldives and India share a unique partnership built on mutual trust and respect with a renewed impetus during the past four years. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar junta extends state of emergency, delaying promised elections – The Guardian

Myanmar’s military regime has announced an extension to its state of emergency, effectively delaying elections the junta had pledged to hold by August, as it battles anti-coup fighters across the country. The junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, acknowledged that more than a third of townships were not under full military control, in comments reported by state media on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Myanmar announces cabinet reshuffle after state of emergency extension – DajjiWorld

Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) announced a cabinet reshuffle after the country’s state of emergency was extended for six more months on Wednesday. Under the cabinet reshuffle, a new chairman for the Union Civil Services Board, a new chairman for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and four new Chief Ministers of region and states were appointed, Xinhua news agency reported. Click here to read…

UN special envoy to Myanmar moots regional protection framework as crisis drags on – CNA

United Nations special envoy to Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer plans to rally the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to form a regional protection framework. The aim is to help those suffering from a crisis sparked by a military coup two years ago. She tells Leong Wai Kit this is one of four key areas she will focus on this year. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal’s Social Protection System Reinforces Inequality – My Republica

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the newly-elected government of Nepal to prioritize coverage for all children and add coverage for millions of informal-sector workers as it considers changes to the existing system. The global human rights watchdog also said that Nepal’s social protection system fails to effectively protect children from poverty and reinforces inequalities between informal and formal workers. Click here to read…

Nepal to receive 1.5mn COVID-19 booster vaccines under GAVI – Foreign Brief

The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) will today deliver 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 booster shots to Nepal. Following the sudden rise of positive FB.7—a sub-variant of Omicron—cases in neighboring countries such as India and China, the Nepalese government is gearing up to curb another possible outbreak. While the new set of Pfizer-Biontec Bivalent vaccines are not required for everybody, the Nepalese health minister Dr Sanjay Mahaseth strongly urges its citizens to get vaccinated. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Former Pakistan Interior minister Sheikh Ahmed arrested: Report – India Today

Former interior minister of Pakistan Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was arrested on Thursday, reports said. A complaint was lodged against him for claiming that former President Asif Zardari was hatching a plot to assassinate PTI chief Imran Khan. Police said a bottle of liquor and a weapon were recovered from Sheikh Rashid’s possession, adding that the minister was intoxicated, the report said. Click here to read…

IMF Projects Slowdown In Pakistan’s GDP From 3.5% To 2% – NDTV

The International Monetary Fund projected a slowdown in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 3.5 per cent to 2 per cent for the current fiscal, The News International reported. According to the Pakistan daily, the IMF had also projected that the GDP growth rate would rebound in the next fiscal 2023-24 up to 4.4 per cent. Click here to read…

Imran says govt lacked ‘understanding, interest’ when terrorism began to resurface – Dawn

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday slammed the government for blaming his party for the resurgence in terrorism in the country, saying that the incumbent setup had no “understanding nor interest” when the phenomenon had started to resurface. Imran made the remarks during a televised address where he talked about terrorism at length and the steps the PTI government took. Click here to read…

IMF presses Pakistan to foist more taxes in second round of talks – Ary News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to impose roughly Rs600-800 billion in additional taxes in the second round of talks to revive $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) stalled for months, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing sources. According to details, the Federal Revenue Board held a second round of technical talks with IMF mission, led by Mission Chief to Pakistan Nathan Porter, on the ninth review of a $7 billion loan programme. Click here to read…

Pakistan inflation rises to 48-year-high of 27.55%: Report – Hindustan Times

Pakistan’s inflation quickened to the fastest in almost 48 years in January as thousands of containers of food items, raw materials and equipment are stuck in ports after the cash-strapped government curtailed imports. Consumer prices rose 27.55% from a year earlier, according to data released by the statistics department on Wednesday. That compares with a median estimate for a 25.9% gain in a Bloomberg survey and a 24.47% jump in December. Inflation is at the highest since May 1975, according to central bank data. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Building the economy should be our priority, President emphasizes – Colombo Page

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that building the collapsed economy should be the priority, as political freedom is of no use if the economic freedom of the country is lost. The President also pointed out that the political stability and territorial integrity of a country is the best factor in winning over the economic war. Addressing a ceremony in Kandy held today (01) at the Presidential Palace in Kandy to present the distinguished service awards “Vishishta Seva Vibhushana” to 77 senior officers of the Tri Forces, the President said. However, lives lost during the war cannot be regained, the income lost during the economic war could be regained. The award ceremony recognizes the distinguished service of military officers and was organized in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day celebrations. Click here to read…

On Sri Lanka’s 75th birthday, the future looks bleak – Financial Times

The country defaulted on more than $50bn of foreign loans in 2022, and last May the then prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe complained that finding even $1mn was proving to be a challenge. Sri Lanka has one of the largest public sectors in the world, which — including defence — accounts for between 70-80 per cent of the country’s annual budget. Meeting the salary bill is a battle. The government is in the throes of negotiating a $2.9bn IMF bailout, which ministers seem confident will be approved. Click here to read…

Jaishankar’s Sri Lanka visit a harbinger of positive developments for island nation – The Print

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Sri Lanka is being seen as a harbinger of positive developments and an improved economic and financial situation for the island nation. Click here to read…

US to provide additional US$ 30 million – Daily News

United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland yesterday announced an additional US$ 30 million for the provision of free lunch to 96,000 schoolchildren in 850 government schools. She said that the US has begun the delivery of 770 MT of food supplies and vegetable oil to meet the food security needs of the country. She said that the US government has provided support worth over US$ 240 milion dollars to Sri Lanka just over a year. “This is a critical movement of your country.The government is working with the IMF and international creditors to stabilize the economy,”Nuland said at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday evening. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Decision on Afghan Seat at UN Postponed: Faiq: Tolo News

The Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, said the UN credentials committee has postponed the decision on whether the Islamic Emirate can send a UN ambassador to New York for a second time. According to Faiq, the current Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan, Myanmar and Libya will continue representing the countries. “The UN credentials committee has not made the decision on whether to give credentials to the Taliban in the UN and it postponed the decision about Afghanistan, Myanmar and Libya,” Faiq said. Click here to read…

Afghanistan Loses Contest for UN Human Rights Seat: Tolo News

Afghanistan lost a contested race for a seat on the top UN human rights body on Tuesday along with Venezuela and South Korea. Afghanistan competed with Bangladesh, Maldives, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate said that Afghanistan’s not being selected for the seat is unjust. “This is not fair that they didn’t give the seat to the Islamic Emirate and they make such decisions in our absence. They should reconsider this,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read…

Afghan Nationals Make Half of Iran’s Foreign Investment: The Khaama Press

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the special representative of the Iranian President to Afghanistan said in his remarks, “Afghan nationals in Iran play a pivotal role towards the national economy. Half of Iran’s foreign investment comes from them, therefore, the high capacity of Afghan citizens should be utilized when the country is facing difficulties in attracting foreign investment.” Mr. Qomi further added that during the past year the United Arab Emirates expelled 700 Afghan businessmen from this country, whose capital was estimated at $30 million. Unfortunately, we failed to attract this capital and embrace Afghan traders to invest in Iran. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Political parties need to find common ground for free and fair election – Dhaka Tribune

Politicians and members of civil society have stressed finding a common ground among the political parties to ensure a free and fair election as the country gears up for the 12th parliamentary election, likely to be held in January, 2024. “Although finding common ground is very difficult, it is possible if the parties look to increase understanding and appreciation of the other,” Sharmeen Murshid, the chief executive officer of local election observer group Brotee, said at a seminar in the capital on Thursday. Click here to read…

Raised our concerns with Dhaka – The Daily Star

US Ambassador Peter Haas and embassy staff had to wrap up a meeting in Dhaka early on December 14 due to security concerns, said US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel. “And we have raised our concerns about this matter at the highest levels of Bangladesh government,” he told a press briefing at the US State Department yesterday. He made the comments in response to a question on the US envoy’s visit to the house of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, a victim of enforced disappearance in 2013, where other families gathered as well. Click here to read…

Jamaat spreading propaganda against nation – The Daily Star

A group of eminent citizens yesterday strongly condemned the appointment of lobbyists by Jamaat to convince the US and UK governments to impose sanctions against Bangladesh. They also viewed that Jamaat is spreading propaganda against Bangladesh using human rights issue as a shield. They said it in a joint statement under the banner of Sammilita Samajik Andolon, a citizens’ platform. Click here to read…

Bhutan

hina builds ropeway, roads near tri-junction – The Hindu

Beijing has been improving infrastructure and arranging additional deployments along the eastern sector of LAC; officials say there is lot of activity near Doklam that saw face-off in 2017. China has set up a ropeway near the Torsa Nala on its side of the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, and is strengthening roads and other infrastructure along the entire eastern sector, according to defence sources.Click here to read…

Maldives

VP Naseem in the south of Maldives on an official visit – Raajje

Vice President Faisal Naseem is in the south of Maldives, on an official visit. VP Naseem departed to Fuvahmulah City and Addu City on Thursday. His first destination was Addu City where he visited all the districts of the city. In Hulhumeedhoo district, VP Naseem inaugurated the health center’s new services. He will visit government offices and institutions during his stay in Fuvahmulah City, where he will also inaugurate the new facility of Fuvahmulah Hospital.
Click here to read…

China encourages investing in the Maldives: Ambassador – Edition

The Chinese government encourages its enterprises to invest in the Maldives, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Wang Lixin, stated on Wednesday. The Ambassador made the remark at the Business Forum held as part of the “Belt and Road” initiative between China and Maldives. Lixin highlighted the importance of effectively conducting the Tripartite Coordinating Mechanism Meetings. Click here to read…

Myanmar

BRI: China plans mega infra project in Myanmar close to Arunachal border – Economic Times

China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh must be viewed in the context of the country’s plan to create a mega infrastructure project in Myanmar’s Kachin state, which borders Arunachal Pradesh, with an eye to bring the area under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A Chinese company has announced plans to build the massive Myitkyina Economic Development Zone on about 4,700 acres of land along the historic Ledo Road in Kachin state. Click here to read…

Myanmar Air Force Day – Scramble

As every year on 15 December, the Tatmadaw Lay (MAF, Myanmar Air Force) have their commemoration ceremony where new aircraft and helicopters are commissioned into service. The ceremony is traditionally held at Mandalay-Meiktila flying training air base. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Cannot Last Long: Kachin Leader – The Irrawaddy

A leader of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the powerful Kachin Independence Army (KIA) which is fighting the regime, says Myanmar’s junta is unlikely to survive as it is crippled by low morale and declining power. General Gun Maw, vice-chairman of the KIO told Radio Free Asia: “There is no possibility for a further increase in [junta] strength and its existing forces are also already crippled …There is almost no hope for them to last long.” Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal, India to hold joint military training exercise – The Economic Times

“Indian Army troops arrived today in Saljhandi, Nepal for the 16th Joint India-Nepal Military Ex #SURYAKIRAN. The exercises are a paragon for the exchange of professional experience & cementing the friendship between two armies,” the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu tweeted on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Remittance

inflows to Nepal up by record 20 percent – The Kathmandu Post
The remittance inflows to Nepal jumped by a record 20.4 percent to Rs378.04 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal year amid the world’s largest economies teetering on the brink of a recession triggered by inflation, latest data from the Nepal Rastra Bank showed. Click here to read…

Foreign powers weigh in as new faces join President race – The Kathmandu Post

With the Election Commission submitting the election results to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday, parties have stepped up discussions on a new government and candidate for new President. Former chief justice Shrestha, according to some Congress leaders, is the choice of some foreign forces and is still under consideration at the top political level. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Govt devises plan to conserve energy, cut import bill: Dawn

The government has devised a national contingency energy-saving plan to stabilise the economy, conserve energy and cut the import bill because an “extraordinary situation” required “extraordinary measures”, the information minister said on Thursday. The plan, prepared by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, was approved in a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office. Click here to read…

Govt slashes petrol price by Rs10 per litre: The Express Tribune

The federal government on Thursday slashed the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs10 per litre effective from December 16, 2022. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a tweet said that the government had reduced the price of high speed diesel by Rs7.50 per litre. The government slashed the price of petrol by Rs10 per litre, kerosene oil by Rs10 per litre and light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs10 per litre. Click here to read…

Review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy sought: The Express Tribune

The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday called for a review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy in the wake of the attitude of the Taliban government in Kabul towards Islamabad as seen during recent weeks and months.The committee met at the Parliament House with Chairman Farooq Hamid Naek in the chair. The committee received a briefing from Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed on several issues, including the recent attack on the Pakistan Embassy building in Kabul. Click here to read…

Afghan forces resume firing at Chaman border: The News

One person was killed and 12 others were wounded on the Pakistani side of the border in Chaman during an intense firing by the Afghan security forces for the second time on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident was “uncalled-for aggression” and Pakistani troops gave a “befitting” but “measured response” and avoided targeting the civilians on the other side. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Easter Attacks: Former President Sirisena ordered to produce written submissions – Daily News

Former President Maithripala Sirisena and other accused were ordered to produce their written submissions on January 18 regarding the removal of President Ranil Wickremesinghe from the 108 cases filed by the victims who were injured, permanently disabled and victimized in the Easter attack seeking compensation for their life and property damage. Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha De Silva issued this order due to the fact that former President Maithripala Sirisena and the prosecution raised their objection to the removal of the President who has been named as the second accused in these compensation cases. Click here to read…

Russia to provide market for Sri Lanka’s agricultural products – MSN

The Government of the Russian Federation expresses its support to provide a market for Sri Lanka’s agricultural products and introducing new technical equipment to increase agricultural production. A discussion in this regard was held between Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagarayan and Russian Trade Commissioner Alexander L. Rybas and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera on Wednesday (14)… The new technology used by the Russian Federation to create a market for agricultural products of Sri Lanka in Russia increasIng agricultural production and the introduction of technical methods was taken up for discussion at the meeting. Talks also focused on acquiring chemical fertilizers including Urea to Sri Lanka in the futureClick here to read…

INS Sahyadri’s Colombo Port call and Sri Lanka’s Maritime Policy – Daily News

The Indian Navy Commander’s visit, along with the arrival of Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, a multi-role missile frigate of the Indian Navy is another landmark of the maritime cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. Analysts also point out that these two incidents have marked Sri Lanka’s impartiality in its dealings with maritime powers. Although Indian experts were irked by Sri Lanka’s decision to allow a Chinese satellite tracking vessel to enter its ports in August this year, the two neighbours seem to have smoothened the ruffled relationship as evident from the visit by Indian Navy Chef and the INS Sahyadri, which is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate built for the Indian Navy. The Shivalik-class features improved stealth and land attack capabilities over the preceding Talwar-class frigates. Click here to read…