Afghanistan

Afghanistan remains primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia: UN report – The Hindu

Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia, with groups such as ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan enjoying greater freedom of movement in the country owing to the absence of an effective Taliban security strategy, a UN report has said. Click here to read…

‘India, Iran, China missions in Kabul facing terror risk’ – Hindustan Times

The embassies of India, China, and Iran in Kabul face the threat of attack by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP), which has strengthened its capacity faster than anticipated and positioned itself as the primary rival to the Taliban setup in Afghanistan, according to assessments by several countries. Click here to read…

Uzbekistan resumes operations on Afghanistan railroad after dispute – Eurasianet

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed an agreement on an Uzbek-operated railroad that runs on Afghan territory, allowing the full resumption of vital cargo and aid deliveries after a short hiatus. That will come as a relief to Kabul, since the deal resolves a dispute over the railroad Afghanistan uses to receive around half of its imports and much of its humanitarian aid. Click here to read…

ISIS Is the Common Enemy Of Afghanistan, International Community: Khalilzad – Menafn

Zalmay Khalilzad, Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation says that ISIS is the common enemy of Afghanistan and the International Community. The Afghan-American diplomat on Twitter said that cooperation against ISIS (Daesh) can be an important part of future relations. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

FS Kwatra calls on PM Hasina, reaffirms India’s support for deeper economic partnership with Bangladesh – Economic Times

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday called on Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during which he reaffirmed India’s support for wider and deeper development and economic partnership with her country. They also agreed to maintain close engagement in the context of Bangladesh’s participation as a Guest Country during India’s G20 Presidency. Click here to read…

Bangladesh seeks US support for RAB’s capacity building – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday sought US support for increased capacity of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) while visiting US state department Counsellor Derek Chollet acknowledged improvement in performance of the Bangladesh’s elite anti-crime police unit. Click here to read…

‘We hope China will help repatriate Rohingyas’ – The Daily Star

State Minister for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman yesterday expressed hope that China will help to repatriate Rohingya people. Enamur made the comments after a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the ministry’s office at Bangladesh Secretariat. “We hope China will play an important role in repatriating forcefully displaced Rohingya people to Myanmar,” said Enamur. Click here to read…

Bhutan

India to help Bangladesh import hydropower from Nepal, Bhutan: FS – United News of Bangladesh

India has assured Bangladesh of extending its cooperation for importing hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan through India, said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen Wednesday. Talking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, he said they also discussed the “practical problem” in terms of transmission lines inside Bangladesh as there is a need for expanding the transmission network and boosting its capacity. Click here to read…

More bans likely to save dwindling foreign exchange reserves – Kuensel

To save the plummeting country’s foreign exchange reserves, it is likely the government will add more items to the import ban list and monetary measures. In addition to the continuation of the moratorium on vehicle import, the finance ministry has proposed to the Cabinet, a phase-II moratorium to suspend construction loans and put a ban on the import of furniture, processed meat and food items, junk foods, alcohol, and LED television. Click here to read…

Maldives

Maldives Non-Resident Ambassador presents credentials to President of Finland – Raajje

Aishath Shaan Shakir has presented her credentials as the Non-Resident Ambassador of Maldives to the Federal Republic of Germany. The Maldivian Ambassador to Germany and the Kingdom of Norway as well, Shaan presented her Letter of Credence to President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Young leaders are the strength and future of Maldives – Raajje

The young leaders of today are the strength and future of the country, says First Lady Fazna Ahmed. She said this in her remarks at the virtual opening of the 2nd Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) and the Big Six Movement on Wednesday. As such, she urged the society to pay attention to the growth and development of girl guides and young leaders. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar: Supreme Court Rejects Aung San Suu Kyi’s Appeal On Corruption Charges – Eurasia Review

Myanmar’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal of two corruption charges, sources close to the court told Radio Free Asia. Suu Kyi, 77, was sentenced by a military junta court in October to three years in Naypyidaw Prison for two corruption cases that involved charges of accepting money from Maung Weik, a businessman linked to the military. Click here to read…

Four Myanmar Parties Register for Junta Election – The Irrawaddy

The USDP, FDP and MPD were among 34 parties that met military chief Min Aung Hlaing ahead of the 2020 general election. The party leaders sought the commander-in-chief’s assurance that he would intervene if voting was deemed unfair. They also called for then UEC chairman U Hla Thein to be replaced, saying they do not trust him because he was appointed by the National League for Democracy (NLD). Click here to read…

Kinship across border: How Nagas helped their Myanmar brethren – East Mojo

February marked the second anniversary of the Myanmar coup but on February 2, 2023, residents of Chiu Village, also known as Solo, a Myanmar Naga settlement adjacent to the Indian border in Noklak district of Nagaland were not thinking about any protests. Instead, they watched as a fire caused by a solar panel malfunction gutted over 70 houses and a Morung. Click here to read…

Nepal

Demand to make Nepal a ‘Hindu Nation’ intensifies again, millions of people gathered – News Track Live

The demand to make our neighboring country Nepal a Hindu nation once again has started intensifying and this campaign has also got the support of the country’s former Maharaja Gyanendra Shah. Former king Gyanendra Shah on Monday (February 13) joined an important campaign related to the restoration of the former status of the Hindu state. This was Gyanendra Shah’s first political presence after the end of the monarchy in Nepal. Significantly, this campaign has been launched on a day when the violent Maoist-turned-PM Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Nepal government declared a public holiday in the country to mark the completion of 23 years of the Maoist war. Click here to read…

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda to visit India on first foreign trip as Nepal PM soon: Reports – Economic Times

Nepal and India have discussed the possibility of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” visiting New Delhi on his first foreign trip after assuming power in December last year, according to a media report on Wednesday. Prachanda discussed his intention to visit India during his meeting with Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Monday, officials said. Click here to read…

Creating a paper device to improve public health in Nepal – Nature.com

While working on his PhD at the University of Wyoming in Laramie in early 2010, Basant Giri worked with a microfluidic chip, a device half the size of a credit card that can channel the flow of a tiny amount of fluid for early cancer screening. Giri found that these minuscule devices could detect cancer biomarkers using 100-fold lower sample volumes than those required by conventional, bulky laboratory equipment. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pak Hikes Fuel Prices To Historic High With Effect From Today. Details Here – NDTV

Hours after unleashing a tax-loaded mini-budget, Pakistan on Wednesday night hiked up the prices of petrol and gas to a historic high in a bid to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for unlocking the critical loan tranche, reported Geo News. The petrol price has been increased to 272 rupees per litre after an increase of 22.20 rupees, a press release from the Finance Division read, noting that the surge has taken place due to the rupee’s devaluation against the dollar. Click here to read…

Inflation in Pakistan could average 33% in H1 2023, says Moody’s economist – Times of India

Inflation in Pakistan could average 33% in the first half of 2023 before trending lower, and a bailout from the International Monetary Fund alone is unlikely to put the economy back on track, a senior economist with Moody’s Analytics told Reuters. Click here to read…

Fitch downgrades Pakistan’s rating; warns default a ‘real possibility’ – India Today

The beleaguered Pakistani economy faces substantial credit risks with “critically low levels” of foreign exchange reserves, New York-based global ratings agency Fitch said on Tuesday, warning that a default is a “real possibility.” Fitch downgraded Pakistan’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) to ‘CCC-’ from ‘CCC+’, citing further worsening in liquidity and policy risks. Click here to read…

Pakistan court cancels bail of ex-PM Imran Khan in Election Commission protest case – The Hindu

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the bail of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for failing to attend the court hearing of a case linked to protests outside the election commission, a ruling which could lead to his arrest. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists staged a protest after Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the prohibited funding case last year. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

China silent on debt reduction targets for Sri Lanka to get IMF bailout loan – Economic Times

China on Wednesday said it supports debt-trapped Sri Lanka’s efforts to get the much-needed IMF bailout facility but parried questions on reports that it will not follow the global lender’s debt reduction targets for it to clear the relief package. Last month, China gave Sri Lanka the financing assurances required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock a USD 2.9 billion bailout package for the country, days after India strongly backed the island nation’s efforts to secure the loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. China’s EXIM Bank has issued a letter granting Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on repayment and agreeing with the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Click here to read…

The Geopolitics of Sri Lanka’s Energy Crisis – Diplomat

Two top foreign officials visited Sri Lanka within a fortnight spanning late January and early February. The optics of these tightly choreographed events may have obscured the nuts-and-bolts objectives sought by the United States and India. As Quad members, the two powers are on the same page in their bid to counter China’s influence the region. With Sri Lanka going through its worst-ever economic crisis and on its knees for an IMF bailout, diplomatic interactions with such visitors take place in the shadow of a glaring power imbalance. Click here to read…

Defence co-operation with Sri Lanka explored at Aero India – Economy Next

Sri Lanka’s State Minister for Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon at an aviation confab has brought out the potential for greater defence co-operation between the two countries, India’s embassy in Colombo said. Forums like Aero India can be used for defence cooperation through joint ventures, co-development and production whilst investing in research and development, the High Commission quoted Minister Tennakoon as saying.Minister Tennakoon had been accompanied by a business delegation from Sri Lanka to identify avenues for greater cooperation. Click here to read…

Pakistan-Sri Lanka underline strong defence ties – Island

Sri Lankan Defence leadership has stressed the importance of maintaining existing strong military-to-military cooperation and expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s unstinted support in the past.The following is the text of statement issued by Pakistan High Commission in Colombo after the five-day visit undertaken by General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI (M), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Pakistan. It was his maiden overseas visit after his appointment as CJCSC. He arrived in Sri Lanka on 9th Feb on special invitation of his counterpart General Shavendra Silva, and was accorded a red carpet reception and a traditional welcome upon his arrival at BIA. During his stay, General Sahir called on the President of Sri Lanka, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders of Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Top UN delegation tells Taliban to end confinement, deprivation, abuse of women’s rights – UN News

Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, and the Assistant Secretary-General for UN political, peacebuilding and peace operations, Khaled Khiari, spend four days on a fact-finding mission in Afghanistan, to engage with Taliban leaders, and “underscore UN solidarity with the Afghan people”, according to a press release issued to correspondents on Friday. Click here to read…

China to provide modern weaponry to Taliban after terror attack on its nationals in Afghanistan: report – Times Now

China is supplying the Taliban with contemporary weapons in response to the Islamic State Khorasan Province’s (ISKP) recent attack on a hotel in Kabul that primarily housed Chinese nationals. The action is being taken at a time when China’s interests are threatened by Afghanistan’s instability and potential to be a barrier to the Belt and Road Initiative’s success (BRI). Click here to read…

China Supports Inclusive Political Structure in Afghanistan: Qin – Tolo News

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in a phone call with the acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed China’s support for the Afghan interim government to build a broad and inclusive political structure in the country. Global Times quoted the Chinese FM as saying that China never interferes in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, nor seeks any selfish gains in Afghanistan or the so-called sphere of influence. Click here to read…

Russia accuses US of sponsoring ISIS in Afghanistan– Pakistan Observer

The Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, confirmed that evidence exists of the US attempting to build ties with current Afghan authorities while secretly sponsoring (ISIS). Click here to read…

Bangladesh

RAB arrests two members of extremist outfit at Rohingya camp – New Age

Rapid Action Battalion on Monday said that they had arrested two operatives of extremist outfit Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya after an ‘exchange of fire’ at Kutupalong Rohingya camp of Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar on early Monday. The RAB, in a text message, said that they had arrested the group’s policy maker and armed wing chief Ranbir and explosive expert Bashar with firearms and explosives. Click here to read…

UN expert lauds Bangladesh’s role in global discourse on safe, orderly migration – Daily Star

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on Migrants Felipe Gonzalez Morales yesterday appreciated Bangladesh’s proactive role in the global discourse on safe, orderly and regular migration. The UN special rapporteur, who will be in Bangladesh till January 31, met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and discussed issues of mutual interest. Click here to read…

Presidential election by February 23 – Daily Star

EC Secretary Jahangir Alam, after a meeting at the EC office, said the election process has already begun. “We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date of a meeting between the chief election commissioner and the Speaker. The election will be held sometime between January 23 and February 23.” Click here to read…

Bhutan

Govt. to rationalise import and borrow to save foreign currency reserves – Kuensel

Bhutan’s import bill as of September last year shows a estimated daily outflow of INR 233 million (M) and USD 1.35M, equivalent to Nu 105. 23M. The figures could be high if we consider the country’s debt obligations of INR 7 billion (B) and convertible currency debt. Soaring import bills and appreciating USD against the Ngultrum saw the country’s foreign currency reserve decrease. Click here to read…

India and Bhutan foreign secretaries inaugurate projects – Kuensel

The foreign ministry officials, during the inaugural ceremony, said that Digital Drukyul is the project initiated aimed at harnessing the power of ICT to transform Bhutan into an innovative and inclusive society. GoI made assistance of Nu 1066 Million (M). There are four critical projects under the initiative – Government-Initiated Network; Integrated Citizen Services; Digital School, and Enhancement of ICT Sector’s Capacity and Competency. Click here to read…

12th Plan talks fruitful, says PM – Kuensel

India has released almost 86 percent of the Nu 45 billion that it has committed to the 12th Plan, according to the Prime Minister. “Such a speedy and efficient release of funds has not happened in the earlier Plans. We thanked them and conveyed that we are looking forward to the same efficiency,” Lyonchhen said. Lyonchhen said that issues including the pending ones were resolved since the delegation was led by the foreign secretary who is an official with authority. Click here to read…

Maldives

India-Maldives ties, and why New Delhi is concerned about Male’s upcoming presidential elections – Indian Express

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Maldives earlier this week, at a fraught time for the country’s president, Ibrahim Solih. The presidential election in Maldives is to be held on September 9 this year, with a runoff, if necessary, on September 30. Solih has announced he will run for a second term, but his candidature has been opposed within his party by former president and leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed, who has thrown his hat in the ring. The two will face off in the party primary on January 28. Click here to read…

China Outmaneuvered In The Maldives As Construction Of India-Funded Airport Begins On Strategic Island – Swarajyamag

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in the Maldives this week for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hanimaadhoo international airport project. The $136.6 million development of the Hanimadhoo airport is being executed by Indian company JMC Projects Ltd, financed through a line of credit from India’s Exim Bank. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar Resistance Targets More Junta Election Offices – The Irrawaddy

Resistance groups have attacked six Myanmar junta offices in Yangon, Sagaing and Magwe regions in two days to disrupt plans for a general election later this year. The junta regime started updating voter lists on January 9, sparking attacks from resistance groups. Click here to read…

Dhaka requests Beijing to discuss border situation with Myanmar – Rising BD

Bangladesh has informed China about the fresh unrest at the Zero Line on the Myanmar border. Dhaka has requested Beijing to discuss the issue with the Myanmar government to resolve it. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday (January 22) made a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. Click here to read…

Myanmar sees growth in contraband goods seizures in 2022 – Mizzima

Myanmar Vice-Senior General Soe Win said the Myanmar authorities managed to seize more contraband goods over the last year, than the year before, all told a 56 billion kyat value increase. Soe Win made the claims at the Anti-illegal Trade Leading Committee meeting held in Naypyidaw on 18 January. He said at this meeting that there were 2,240 such cases during the one-year period from January to December 2021 and the estimated value of these contraband goods was 8.4 billion kyat. Click here to read…

Myanmar Junta Airstrike Targets Ceasefire Signatory – The Irrawaddy

A Myanmar junta airstrike has targeted the house and office of a Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) commander in Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State, near the Thai border, according to the armed group. Click here to read…

Nepal

Families of Nepal Plane Crash Likely To Miss Out Millions in Compensation: Report – NDTV

The grieving families of the victims of the Yeti Airlines plane crash are likely to lose out on millions in compensation because the Nepal government has not ratified the crucial air carriers’ liability and insurance draft bill, according to a media report on Friday. On January 15, a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed into a gorge near the newly-built airport in Pokhara, killing all the 72 passengers on board, including five Indians, in the country’s worst air disaster in 30 years. Click here to read…

China builds new dam in Tibet near Indian border – The Hindu

In a development that is a matter of concern to both India and Nepal, China is constructing a new dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in Tibet, close to the tri-junction, satellite imagery has revealed. The new dam is located around 16 km north of the tri-junction and is opposite the Kalapani area of Uttarakhand, according to sources in the security establishment. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Pakistan, Russia to sign oil supply agreement in March – Dawn

Pakistan and Russia decided on Friday to address all technical issues — insurance, transportation and payment mechanism — to sign an agreement by late March this year for the supply of Russian oil and other petroleum products at discounted rates. “On crude products and future supply of oil products, we have already decided to draft an agreement and to sort out all issues that we have with regard to transportation, insurance, payments and volumes and we have already established the timelines for this agreement” for late March this year, said Russia’s Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov at a joint news conference with Economic Affairs Minister Ayaz Sadiq. Click here to read…

We want normal ties with Pakistan, says India – The Hindu

India desires “normal neighbourly relation” with Pakistan in an atmosphere that is free of violence, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Thursday. Responding to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of holding “serious” dialogue with India on the Kashmir issue, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India’s position on talks with Pakistan has not changed. Click here to read…

No intentions to carry out military operations inside Afghanistan, clarifies FM Bilawal Bhutto – Daily Pakistan

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday shoots down reports of carrying out surgical strikes in Afghanistan, clarifying that Islamabad has no such intentions of carrying out a military operation in the neighboring country. In his recent interview with a foreign news outlet on the sidelines of the WEF summit in Davos, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan has no such intentions to launch a cross-border military operation in war-torn country, weeks after Kabul strongly responded to the comments of the Interior Minister. Click here to read…

Analysis: Why a financially stable Pakistan is in US interest – Dawn

In recent weeks and months, the US has made no secret of the fact that it is closely monitoring developments in Pakistan, both on the security and economic fronts. In the past three months, over a dozen statements have mentioned Pakistan specifically or in passing, and in each case, the tone and tenor reflects a level of concern seldom seen in the past. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

India to Hike Development Assistance To Sri Lanka – Outlook

India on Friday agreed to double its high-impact community development project in Sri Lanka with a new bilateral agreement signed during the much-anticipated visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He was on a two-day visit to the debt-trapped island nation, met top leaders to enhance bilateral ties and finalise a debt restructuring plan to help Colombo carve out a path from its economic crisis. Click here to read…

After India, China gives financing assurances to Sri Lanka for IMF bailout package – The Hindu

China has given debt-ridden Sri Lanka the financing assurances required by the IMF to unlock a $2.9 billion bailout package for the country, days after India strongly backed the island nation’s efforts to secure the loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. The Sunday Times newspaper reported that China’s Exim Bank delivered a letter on Saturday granting Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on repayment and agreeing with the International Monetary Fund’s extended fund facility (EFF). The report was confirmed by Sri Lankan officials who did not want to be named. Click here to read…

Economic Downturn and External Role – Daily News

For generations, our lament has been the absence of policies at national level. As Governments change, so do the policies adapted by the outgoing Government. It is this lacunae that has bitten us in the posterior end resulting in the ongoing economic crisis. As we struggle to navigate through this current challenge, one thing is clear – our economy and foreign relations have become spouses. Click here to read…