PAKISTAN
FATF affiliate not happy with steps to block banned groups funding: Dawn
March 28, 2019
A delegation of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) on money laundering, a regional affiliate of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has expressed serious reservations over insufficient physical actions on ground against proscribed organisations (POs) to block flow of funds and activities and is likely to issue a formal warning before its departure on Thursday (today). Click here to read...
AFGHANISTAN
‘We Will Never Bow’ To Pakistan: Saleh: Tolo News
March 28, 2019
Amrullah Saleh, a vice-presidential candidate for the next elections and former head of the NDS has said that Afghanistan can be an ally to Pakistan but it "will never bow" to it. "What we are communicating to Pakistanis is: We can be your allies, but we will never bow to you," Saleh said in an interview with FRANCE 24. Saleh blasted the suggestion by Pakistani PM Imran Khan to create an interim government in Afghanistan to conduct talks with the Taliban, warning that Khan "should be very careful" with Afghanistan. He once again accused Pakistan of "sponsoring terror".Click here to read...
NEPAL
Nepal and India will review bilateral ties—and a laundry list of pending issues: Kathmandu Post
March 28, 2019
After months of delay, officials from Nepal and India will finally review bilateral ties from the Eminent Persons’ Group report to India-funded projects in Nepal as Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale arrives in Kathmandu on Thursday. The fifth meeting of the Joint Commission at foreign ministers’ level in Kathmandu, which was initially proposed for February, could not take place at the time as Sushma Swaraj, India’s external affairs ministers, was occupied with election campaigns. Click here to read...
CHINA
Xi's visit helps promote Belt, Road in Eurasia: China Daily
March 28, 2019
President Xi Jinping's trip to Italy, Monaco and France promoted new expansion of the Belt and Road in Eurasia, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. Xi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday after wrapping up his state visits to the three European countries. It is his first overseas trip this year. During the six-day visit, Xi traveled to five cities and attended more than 40 events. Click here to read...
Lost in translation? How verbal mishaps and lack of Chinese-language document threaten US-China trade deal: South China Morning Post
March 28, 2019
“Misconceptions” may have put more distance between China and the United States in their efforts to reach a deal that will end their trade war, Michael Pillsbury, an outside adviser to US President Donald Trump, has said. Pillsbury, who Trump has called “the leading authority on China”, said misinterpretations about the most recent talks and the lack of a formal Chinese-language version of what the US side is asking for are bigger obstacles than an enforcement mechanism for Beijing to carry out its commitments. Click here to read...
