VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - December 13, 2022

Afghanistan

'No Alternative' for Dialogue With Kabul: Norwegian FM: Tolo News

Norway's foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said that there is no alternative to dialogues and that there is a need to talk with “those in power in order to help the Afghan people.” She made the remarks at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2022: Afghanistan - Finding a Way Forward, held in Oslo, Norway. “There is no alternative to the dialogues. We need to talk with those in power in order to help the Afghan people,” Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway's foreign minister, told the Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2022: Afghanistan - Finding a Way Forward, held in Oslo Norway. “For instance, to ensure access for aid workers to all parts of the country. No access means no life-saving assistance.” Click here to read... [2]

Attack on Pakistan Embassy in Kabul Widely Condemned: Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council in a statement condemned the attack and said it asks all relevant parties to respect and ensure the safety and security of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel of United Nations Members States. The attack on the Pakistan embassy happened shortly after an attack on Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s office in which at least two people were killed. The attack on Pakistani embassy was also slammed by some Kabul-based diplomatic missions. Click here to read... [3]

UNHCR Provides Shelter to the Earthquake-Affected Villages in Southern Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

The newly-built, well-insulated houses equipped with Bukhari heaters, expansive windows, strong doors, and solar energy will provide enduring shelter for some 7,000 people following June’s devastating earthquake that ravaged Afghanistan’s long-neglected southeast region, the UNHCR said in a tweet. According to the UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, some US$14 million has been allocated for the community-based construction efforts to build some 2,300 earthquake-resilient houses in Southern Khost and Paktika provinces devastated by the deadly June 22, earthquake. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

BNP, Mancha to launch simultaneous movement – New Age

As the Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, announced on Monday that it would wage a street movement simultaneously with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party from December 24 on the basis of common demands, the country is likely to witness the beginning of a greater movement for democracy. The Ganatantra Mancha announced its 14-point demands on Monday, including the resignation of the government, dissolving the parliament and forming an interim government to hold a free and fair election, after the BNP at its December 10 mass rally in the capital called on all opposition parties to join its December 24 countrywide demonstration to back its 10-point demandsClick here to read... [5]

The politics behind Bangladesh protests – Indian Express

A massive rally by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka Saturday has signalled that the main opposition party has reorganised on the ground despite a severe government crackdown against it, channeling economic grievances and popular resentment against the perceived authoritarian style of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a three-term incumbent. Click here to read... [6]

ARNA Declaration and our expectations – Dhaka Tribune

The political platform can be a principle player in forming a comprehensive solution to the Rohingya crisis…After a lot of efforts, the Rohingya community around the world could come to a sole political platform named Arakan Rohingya National Alliance (ARNA) on November 20. It was a much-awaited requirement and decision, which is needed to establish Rohingya's right of self-determination, to be able to reach the international community, to guide their future generations, and to engage with all the stakeholders in Myanmar and around the world. ARNA Declaration contains 14 clauses and 7 sub-clauses. Click here to read... [7]

NC elections budget increase by 47% – Kuensel Online

The fourth National Council election next year could be the most expensive, going by the number of aspiring candidates and the budget the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) proposed. The ECB has proposed a budget of Nu 368.363M for the fourth National Council (NC) elections. This is an increase of 47 percent compared to the previous election in 2018. Click here to read... [8]

Govt. to drop Duty-Free Quota from next month – Kuensel Online

The decision was taken during the 132nd Lhengye Zhungtshog held on November 29. SoTN report stated that, when reviewed, it was found that differentiated handouts were also misused deflecting from their intended purposes. “The membership had also increased over the years leading to loss of revenue.” Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan Observes 38th SAARC Charter Day – Bhutan Times

The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) observed the 38th SAARC Charter Day on 8 December in capital Thimphu. The day was adopted on 8 December, 1985 during its first summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The SAARC charter recognizes the region’s shared history and the determination of the SAARC Member States – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – to foster mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation for peace and prosperity. Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan to pursue sustainable development and remain carbon neutral – Bhutan Times

Bhutan elaborated on efforts to pursue sustainable development and committed to remain carbon neutral at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt during the COP 27. Adaptation and scaling of climate finance were of high priority to Bhutan. Thus, in collaboration with Nepal, Bhutan proposed the inclusion of needs and special circumstances of fragile and vulnerable mountainous countries in keeping with the Paris Agreement’s principle of leaving no one behind under the African Group’s agenda on special needs of African Countries. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Blackjet launches direct flights to the Maldives - Avas

BlackJet airline has launched flights from Moscow to the Maldives' Velana International Airport (VIA). The Tourism Ministry said the launch of Blackjet flights is expected to increase the number of high-end tourists visiting the Maldives. Russia is currently the second-largest tourist source market for the Maldives. According to statistics from the Tourism Ministry, as of December 6, 12.2 percent of tourist arrivals were from Russia. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Is China using Pakistan as its proxy to arm military rule in Myanmar - Times of India

Pakistan-Myanmar military industrial link has received a significant improvement in the recent past. In Oct 2022, a senior-level Pakistani military officials visited Myanmar to examine a defence industry complex near Yangon and take part in a workshop on JF-17 block II aircraft that Myanmar had bought from Islamabad, as per the reports in the media. One more Pakistani team of officials visited Myanmar to afford technical assistance for the production of weapons. In Sept, Myanmar military officials went to Pakistan to review the delivery of bombs and bullets it had ordered from that country. This team again visited Pakistan recently for pre-shipment scrutiny of deliveries. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Reportedly Renewed for Another Year Despite Junta's Opposition - VOA News

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun is the permanent representative of Myanmar to the United Nations; however, the diplomat does not represent the country's ruling military junta. Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed to his position in 2020, months before the military overthrew the elected civilian government in February 2021. The military junta tried to fire him from his post, but he refused to leave, and so far, the United Nations General Assembly Credentials Committee has refused to recognize the military's appointee. He is also backed by Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), established by the country's elected and now-removed legislators. On Monday, a U.N. diplomat told VOA that the U.N. credentials committee had agreed to uphold his status as Myanmar's ambassador. The diplomat declined to speak on the record before the committee formally announces its decision. Click here to read... [14]

Chinese underworld floods Thailand-Myanmar border river - Asia Nikkei

"Thailand and Myanmar are friendly and close neighbors separated only by a strip of water," proclaims Hong Kong-based Yatai International Holding Group in a Facebook video promoting its purported contribution to a China-Thailand-Myanmar economic corridor. Along that strip, the Moei River, Shwe Kokko Yatai New City has been conceived as a fantastic $15 billion city of the future. Development is well underway in Myanmar's malarial and strife-torn Karen state, where ethnic Karen forces continue a grinding insurgency against the central government that dates from 1948. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

CPN-Maoist Centre chief ‘Prachanda’ says his party has key to form next govt in Nepal – Indian Express

Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, the chairman of Nepal’s ruling coalition partner – CPN-Maoist Centre, said on Sunday that his party has the key to form the next government, as the ruling alliance leaders intensified negotiations for a power-sharing deal. “Maoist Centre is now a key force in Nepal that even the international power cannot influence here without knowing its position,” the former two-time prime minister said. Click here to read... [16]

India, Nepal Signed MoUs For 3 Projects To Be Developed Under Assistance Of Government Of India – Orissa Diary

The Embassy of India and Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal today signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for undertaking three HICDP projects in Nepal under the grant assistance of Government of India, one each in Education, Health Care and Drinking Water Sectors. These three projects, namely:- construction of Shree Janata Belaka Secondary School Building in Udayapur District; construction of Ngonga Thenchowk Chholing Meditation Centre in Soulukhumbu District and construction of Lisnekhola Tikasung Dangchet Jharlang Water Supply Project in Dhading District shall be implemented at a total estimated cost of NRs.101.79 million. Click here to read... [17]

Amid political transition, Nepali Army trying to purchase 27 APCs from China opaquely – Khabarhub

The Nepali Army (NA) has requested the Ministry of Defense for the procurement of what has been termed “sub-standard” military equipment from China. However, the government is yet to give a nod to the NA’s proposal. It may be noted that the Nepal Army has been facing a series of irregularities allegations in the procurement of defense equipment from China through a private company by bypassing the government-to-government (G2G) procurement process. Click here to read... [18]

Govt bringing controversial ordinance to release Tikapur massacre mastermind Chaudhary from jail – My Republica

The government has decided to introduce an ordinance to pave the way for the release of the advisor to Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), Resham Chaudhary, who is serving a life sentence for the past five years for masterminding the 2015 Tikapur massacre in which nine people were killed. Click here to read... [19]

What Nepal elections mean for South Asia – Hindustan Times

A new government will likely see continuity in Nepal’s ties with its neighbours. With India assuming the G20 presidency and Delhi’s push for diplomacy in non-traditional spheres, the time is ripe to push regional ties beyond the existing areas. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

PM signals readiness to forgive and forget: The Express Tribune

At a press conference in the federal capital, the prime minister, however, fired a broadside against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, holding him responsible for all the crises facing the country today. He called Imran a liar, who used all his energies to crush the Sharif family, and not for the public good. Click here to read... [21]

Afghan govt ‘apologised’ for Chaman incident: The Express Tribune

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday announced that the interim Afghan government had tendered an apology to Pakistan, as the behind-the-scene efforts aimed at defusing tensions triggered by bloody border clashes in Chaman on Sunday appeared to bear fruit. At least seven people lost their lives and 17 others suffered injuries in Chaman when it came under “unprovoked and indiscriminate” heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by the Afghan Border Force. Click here to read... [22]

Sindh to face massive gas loadshedding: The News

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Monday announced that under a new load management plan, gas will be supplied to consumers in Sindh from 6-9am, 12-2pm, and 6-9pm — for a total of eight hours. The SSGC official said that the gas supply would not be cut off completely for the rest of the day. The SSGC will ensure supply in the above-mentioned eight hours as per the government directives, he added. Last month, the SSGC halted its gas supply to industries across Karachi from November 15 to February 28 as gas crisis worsened in the port city. Click here to read... [23]

Imran’s take on army’s ‘immunity’ sought: Dawn

While taking up a challenge by former premier Imran Khan to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) amendments, the Supreme Court on Monday sought his opinion on exclusion of armed forces from the accountability law’s purview. “Since the counsel has emphasised before the court how significant accountability process is in the progress of a society, especially in view of religion, fundamental rights and other factors then what is his client’s opinion about Section 5(n)(iv) of NAO?” Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya protestors form ‘Xcore’ political movement - Economynext

Sri Lanka’s anti-government Aragalaya protestors have formed a discussion group to prepare young leaders for the local government election with the aim to train them to take the country forward. A new movement of the Aragalaya- “Aragalaya XCore” was launched on December 12 with the aim to nurture potential youth leaders in the country who will seek public office. “It’s not a political party but, it’s a movement to bring the potential candidates out,” said Nipun Tharaka, a convenor of Aragalaya XCore. Click here to read... [25]

Navy Chief to visit Sri Lanka, focus on maritime cooperation – Financial Express

Amidst growing concerns in India over China’s attempts to expand influence over Sri Lanka, Chief of the Indian Navy Admiral R Hari Kumar will begin a four-day visit to Sri Lanka starting December 13. The aim of the visit is to further strengthen overall bilateral maritime cooperation and other bilateral cooperation activities between the navies of both sides. During his three-day visit the Naval chief is the chief guest and reviewing officer for the Commissioning Parade at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee, which is scheduled on December 15, 2022. Later he will interact with the top political as well as defence leadership of that country. He will also be visiting other defence establishments of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. Click here to read... [26]