Afghanistan
China in Afghanistan: A year of achievement and aspiration – CGTN
This August marks the first anniversary of the humiliating American troop’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Washington’s two-decade long military occupation dragged the Afghans into chaos with clouds of uncertainty. Click here to read…
At UNSC, India warns of significant increase in ISIL-K presence in Afghanistan and their capacity to carry out attacks – The Hindu
India has told the U.N. Security Council that there is a significant increase in The Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) presence in Afghanistan, as it warned that linkages between proscribed outfits such as Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and provocative statements by other terror groups pose a direct threat to the region’s peace and stability. Click here to read…
Pakistan forces operate against TTP in Afghanistan, says Ex-Afghan Intel chief – The Print
Former Afghan intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil on Monday claimed that the Pakistani military has started an operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in the territory of Afghanistan without consultations with the Taliban officials. Click here to read…
Bangladesh
India for synchronised grid link for power supply from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal: Doraiswami – TBS News
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami on Monday (29 August) said that his country is interested in developing a grid link for power supply with Bangladesh, adding that it will allow seamless power from Bhutan and NepalClick here to read…
Human Rights’ Chronicles In Bangladesh And Ramifications Of UNHRC Chief’s Recent Visit – Eurasia Review
Undeniably, no government since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 can be spared from the curse of human rights abuses. The successive trajectory of human rights violative issues has gone bad to worse. On the contrary, inadequate steps for the recognition, promotion and protection of such inalienable and universal rights have sparked national and international criticismClick here to read…
Promoting India-Bangladesh Ties Through PM Sheikh Hasina’s Upcoming Delhi Visit – Eurasia Review
India and Bangladesh to make this visit fruitful; Diplomatic activities on both sides are also on the rise. Meanwhile, the preparation team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has also reached Delhi. They are currently finalizing the various logistical details of the trip. Click here to read…
Protests against rising fuel prices in Bangladesh continues – Wio News
As the crippling cost of living crisis continues to bite the pockets of Bangladeshi citizens, protest rage unabated across the country. Bangladesh is being caught in a quagmire of economic crisis and sought a bailout from the IMF. Click here to read…
Bhutan
Sixth AFACI general assembly calls for stronger agricultural cooperation – Kuensel Online
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) with support from the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) is focusing on strengthening food security of the country through knowledge sharing and technical support. AFACI is an inter-governmental and multilateral cooperation body which aims to improve food production and promote sustainable agriculture in Asian countries through knowledge and technology transfer and sharing. Click here to read…
In the shadow of Bhutan’s tag as the ‘happiest country’ is the trauma of Nepali-origin refugees – Scroll In
Bhutan’s much-touted happiness rating lies atop a bed of pain. The pain of Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin. I know, because I am one of them. I come from an average working-class family that lived in Bhutan for generations with no interest or involvement in politics. My community, known in Bhutan as Lhotshampa, has traditionally lived in the south of the country. Click here to read…
Coronavirus: tiny Bhutan set to reopen to tourism, ditch zero-Covid policy – SCMP
Bhutan is set to welcome back international tourists from next month, as the Himalayan kingdom eases its strict zero-Covid policy more than two years after slamming shut its borders to keep the virus out. Click here to read…
Maldives
Cabinet deliberates report on Yoga Day riots at National StadiuM – Raajje
The Cabinet of Ministers, has held deliberations on the findings of a cabinet subcommittee investigation into the riots at the National Stadium on June 21 which saw the disruption of activities to mark the International Day of Yoga. Click here to read…
State minister Khaleel discusses Maldives-Bangladesh engagements with counterpart – Raajje
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel has discussed the engagements between the government of Maldives and Bangladesh, with his counterpart. The Maldivian state minister met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Md. Shahriar Alam as part of his ongoing official visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Click here to read…
Myanmar
ASEAN’s Complete Failure on Myanmar: A Short Overview – Council on Foreign Relations
A year and a half after the 2021 coup that formally reinstalled Myanmar’s military, the junta continues its brutal campaign against resistance groups. The army has targeted both ethnic armed organizations and the People’s Defense Force, groups that launched unsuccessful nonviolent protests in response to the coup. The army continues to commit massive rights abuses in many areas of the country. Click here to read…
Mu Traw District Situation Update: Militarisation, displacement, humanitarian aid, landmines and the impact of COVID-19 in Bu Tho Township, June to August 2021 – Relief Web
This Situation Update describes events that occurred in Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw (Hpapun) District from June 2021 to August 2021. Skirmishes occurred between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the combined forces of the State Administration Council (SAC) and Border Guard Forces (BGF). Click here to read…
Myanmar’s Ethnic Groups Must Unite to Topple the Military Regime – The Irrawaddy
On August 26, BBC Bangla covered the Chin refugees living in India’s Mizoram State. BBC reporter Subhajyoti Ghosh visited several refugee camps and reported that nearly 31,000 Chin, who are ethnically related to the Mizo people of Mizoram, have fled Chin State for neighboring Mizoram since last year’s coup in Myanmar. Click here to read…
Myanmar Junta Imposes New Restrictions on Political Parties – The Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s regime has introduced further restrictions on political parties after it barred them from speaking with international organizations or foreigners without permission from the junta’s electoral body. Click here to read…
Over 30 Myanmar Regime Troops Reportedly Killed in Sagaing and Mandalay Regions – The Irrawaddy
More than 30 Myanmar junta soldiers were reportedly killed over the last two days in clashes with People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Sagaing and Mandalay regions. On early Sunday, local resistance forces jointly attacked a military detachment which departed from Lay Thar Village in Tigyaing Township, Sagaing Region, said Tigyaing Revolution (TR), the media partner of the township’s PDFs. Click here to read…
Over 28,000 Homes Torched by Myanmar Junta Forces Since Coup – The Irrawaddy
Myanmar junta forces have burned down 28,434 houses in 645 locations since last year’s coup, with Sagaing Region suffering the heaviest damage, according to the independent research group Data For Myanmar. Click here to read…
Nepal
Suspended Nepal Chief Justice Rana appears before impeachment recommendation committee – The Print
Nepal’s suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana on Wednesday appeared before an impeachment committee of Parliament to present his clarification on several allegations levelled against him. Click here to read…
Rationalising Nepal-India relationship – Kathmandu Post
By returning the Bill to Amend the Citizenship Act to the federal Parliament for a review, President Bidya Devi Bhandari had put a huge question mark on the cross-border “Roti-Beti” relationship. The parliamentary majority may force her to authenticate the bill, but President Bhandari has succeeded in publicising the prejudices of the dominant HAMNS (Hindu, Aryan, Male and Nepali Speaker) mainstream. Click here to read…
Citizenship bill set to pass NA test – The Himalayan Times
The Legislation Management Committee of the National Assembly today passed the citizenship bill on the basis of majority without any changes. CPN- UML lawmakers registered a note of dissent on the bill. Click here to read…
Cabinet gives nod to MoU with Nepal on biodiversity conservation – Hindustan Times
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal in the field of biodiversity conservation, to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, and climate change. Click here to read…
Pakistan
Pakistan govt to consult coalition partners on importing goods from India: Pak FM Miftah Ismail – Indian Express
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Wednesday the government will consider importing goods from India after consulting its coalition partners and key stakeholders, as the cash-strapped nation seeks to stablise soaring food prices triggered by flash floods that have wrought havoc across the country. Click here to read…
Ukraine’s munitions might be coming from unlikely source — Russia’s new friend Pakistan
Ukraine is reportedly getting munition supply from an unlikely source — Pakistan- The Print
Yes, it seems to be the case if one goes by the videos of long range artillery shells, manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factory Board, being unpacked in Ukraine. Click here to read…
Political turmoil, division in army ranks deepen the crisis in Pakistan – Times of India
Terrorism charges against ousted premier Imran Khan have fuelled political tensions in Pakistan. An FIR was registered on August 21 alleging that the former Pakistan prime minister was ‘terrorising and threatening’ top police officials and a female additional sessions judge. Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party has denounced the charges as a politically motivated move by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Click here to read…
Sri Lanka
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka will need fresh tactics to survive – UCA News
Having fallen on hard times, Sri Lankans are adopting their own survival tactics, which are set to boomerang even in the short term. The bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the austerity measures that follow it will further put the entire nation at the mercy of creditors in the long term. Click here to read…
Will Ranil’s Tokenism Work With The 51st Session Of UNHRC? – Eurasia Review
Last July, soon after the 50th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – UN HRC was over, I wrote the following: “In the opinion of some analysts – Ranil as Prime Minister with a fox’s cunningness; Prof. G. L. Peiris as Foreign Minister and Ms. Aruni Wijayawardena who is currently serving as the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – may be able to avert the impending difficulties in the 51 session……. Let’s wait until September.” Click here to read…
IMF likely to make formal announcement on Sri Lanka’s bailout package on Thursday: Reports – Economic Times
The visiting IMF delegation is expected to conclude talks with the Sri Lankan government and make a formal announcement on Thursday on the much-awaited bailout package and staff-level agreement for the cash-strapped island nation, media reports said on Wednesday. Click here to read…