Neighborhood News Digest – 21 March 2023

Afghanistan

US military gear left in Afghanistan resurfaces with Pakistani Taliban – Mission Network News

It was bad enough when the US hastily withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving $7 billion-worth of military equipment to the Taliban. Now, the American weapons and tactical gear from Afghanistan are resurfacing in Pakistan. Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, is the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP looks up to the Afghanistan Taliban like a big brother, calling them a role model. The TTP was emboldened after the Afghanistan Taliban regained power in August 2021. And, like a big brother helping out his little brother, terrorists in Afghanistan are now sharing their new military toys across the Pakistan border. Click here to read... [2]

Iranian official rejects Taliban claim about drug cultivation ban in Afghanistan - Iran Front Page

The director general of Iran’s drug control headquarters dismisses the Taliban’s claim that drug cultivation has been banned in Afghanistan. Eskandar Momeni described the claim as “mere word” and a “show”. Momeni added that it’s highly unlikely the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan are serious and determined to ban drug cultivation. He noted that if the Taliban’s claim is true, then “we must see its indications in the production of narcotics”. Click here to read... [3]

Top Afghan Taliban leader issues decree against nepotism – The Hindu

The supreme leader of the Taliban has issued a decree against nepotism, barring officials in Afghanistan's Taliban administration from hiring relatives in government positions. The shadowy leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, also ordered all Taliban officials to sack their sons and other relatives who are already working in their administration. The decree was posted late on Saturday on the Taliban government's Twitter account. Click here to read... [4]

Afghanistan's first war crime arrest: Ex-Australian soldier arrested for executing civilian in cold blood – Firstpost

A recent probe into war crimes in Afghanistan accused an Australian SAS soldier of killing a civilian in 2012, prompting his arrest on Monday. The accused – 41-year-old Oliver Schulz is the first military member or veteran from Australia to be accused of a war crime under Australian law. If proven, Schulz might get life in prison as it is the highest punishment for the crime. Click here to read... [5]

Over 70 nations, EU sign statement on Afghan women's rights – Firstpost

More the 70 countries and EU representatives in a United Nations CSW statement said the ban on female education puts Afghan women and girls at increased risk of “gender-based violence, including child, early, and forced marriage” and it “undermines Afghanistan’s stability. According to a report in the Tolo News, “In addition, the order barring female employees of national and international NGOs from the workplace means that millions of Afghans will be unable to access life-saving humanitarian assistance,” the statement said. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh

Boosting India-Bangladesh energy cooperation - Organiser

With the inauguration of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) for diesel supply from India to Bangladesh’s northern district on March 18, bilateral relations between the Countries have reached a new height. The first pipeline in South Asia will make Bangladesh’s diesel import more cost-effective and secure. While inaugurating the pipeline jointly with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly termed the pipeline a reflection of Bangabandhu’s vision of friendship. Click here to read... [7]

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina offers India to use Chattogram, Sylhet ports - ToI

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has offered India to utilize the country's ports in Chattogram and Sylhet, asserting that it would boost connectivity and enhance people-to-people contacts in the region. The Chhattogram port is an important seaport in Bangladesh, which is strategically located due to its proximity to India's North-Eastern states.
"India can use our Chattogram and Sylhet ports if they want,” Dhaka Tribune newspaper quoted Prime Minister Hasina as saying when Ram Madhav of India Foundation called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday. Click here to read... [8]

Bangladesh’s G20 opportunity: What’s there to lose when there’s a future to win?

Unarguably, Bangladesh's greatest bilateral opportunity with India in 2023 lies in India's presidency of the G20 grouping of developed and on-the-make countries, the world's “premier forum for international economic cooperation,” to quote G20 literature. This opportunity can -- and should -- spark short, medium, and long-term gains for Bangladesh in an extensive array: Agriculture and its value chains, the digital economy, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, socio-economic development, education, employment, and environment and climate sustainability. All this, from system-architecture to sustainability. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Samtse NC candidates pledge economic growth through tourism – Kuensel

The eight National Council (NC) candidates of Samtse dzongkhag pledge to enact and review the policies and existing plans for the economic growth of the country through vibrant tourism policies. During the 4-hour debate on national television from Samtse HSS on March 18, candidates shared their pledges and vision for the dzongkhag and the country. Click here to read... [10]

DGFT notifies procedure for issuance of registration certificate for import of marble, Areca nut from Bhutan – Devdiscourse

The commerce ministry on Monday notified the procedure for issuance of registration certificate for the import of marble, and Areca nut from Bhutan without minimum import price (MIP) condition. The directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said that the last date for filing online applications for the certificates will be April 10 for 2023-24. Click here to read... [11]

Maldives

Maldives: India Takes Another Step To Boot Out Chinese Influence From Neighbourhood With New Defence Agreement - Swarajya

In an another step booting China out from the Indian Ocean Region, India concluded the fourth Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) with Maldives, yesterday (19 March), reported the Times of India. The DCD is the highest defence and security-related dialogue between the two countries. Click here to read... [12]

PPM-PNC protestors block President's motorcade - AVAS

Supporters of the opposition coalition blocked the President's motorcade while it was traveling along Boduthakurufaanu Magu following a function at Hulhumale' Umar Zahir Building. PPM holds its serial protests calling for the release of their jailed leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, outside their office on Boduthakurufaanu Magu every night. When the President's motorcade could not be driven from the south to the east of Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the Special Protection Group (SPG) of the MNDF sent the motorcade back the way it came. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s democratic struggle at stake in Thailand’s election – Al Jazeera

Thailand’s elections are important not only for the many Thais seeking the end of quasi-military rule in their country but also for the more than 1.5 million Myanmar refugees and migrants who live in the Southeast Asian nation and hope a new government can put an end to Bangkok’s support for the military regime in Naypyidaw. Thailand itself was rocked by a military coup in 2014 when General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power from the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra, solidifying his rule with closely-controlled elections five years later. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar Junta Chief Visits Sagaing as Terror Campaign Intensifies – Irrawaddy

Myanmar junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday visited Sagaing Region, the hotbed of resistance to the military regime in central Myanmar, where he met junta personnel in Monywa serving under the Myanmar military’s Northwestern Command. The regime chief called for unity within the military, and gave long lectures about how soldiers should fully utilize the military training they have been given. In February, the military regime declared martial law in 14 townships in Sagaing, placing them under the direct control of Northwestern Command. Since the imposition of martial law, the junta has stepped up its terror campaign in Sagaing, perpetrating more massacres and arson attacks targeting both resistance fighters and civilians. Observers say Min Aung Hlaing went to Sagaing to give detailed guidance about the ongoing military operation. Click here to read... [15]

US keen to sync with Asean on worsening crisis in Myanmar – Asian News

Myanmar’s internal conflict and its spillover effects, triggered by the military’s coup d’etat just over two years ago, will be a particular focus in an upcoming trip to the Asean region this week by top US State Department official Derek Chollet. The March 20 to 24 trip to Indonesia and Thailand will be the latest in a series of high-level visits by US officials to the region, especially to Jakarta, as Indonesia nears the fourth month of its year as chair of Asean. Most recently, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink visited Jakarta from March 8 to 9. In an interview, Mr Chollet, Counsellor of the State Department, told The Straits Times he would engage with Indonesia on all Asean matters, and in particular on the situation in Myanmar. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal

Nepal PM Prachanda wins vote of confidence – The Telegraph

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Monday secured a vote of confidence in parliament, winning the second floor test within three months after the formation of the new government. Prime Minister Prachanda secured 172 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives. Other 89 lawmakers voted against him whereas one abstained. Click here to read... [17]

New aircraft on the radar for Nepal Airlines – ch-aviation

Nepal Airlines (RA, Kathmandu) has established a committee to assess the viability of leasing additional aircraft. As reported by Nepal's Bizmandu portal, the committee is headed by Janak Raj Kalalheti, the carrier's commercial director, and is an initiative of the airline's board of directors. The new aircraft would be used to improve the airline's international footprint and to relaunch domestic services. Click here to read... [18]

'China dragging Nepal into BRI while stalling projects beneficial to it' – Devdiscourse

China is forcing Nepal into its ambitious but controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. The Nepal-China railway has also been discussed for a long time. Even during the visits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, there have been various agreements regarding the progress of this project, but there is still no readiness to proceed with the work. Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan

Pakistan, China agree to deepen cooperation – The Express Tribune

Pakistan and China have reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and agreed to expand and reinforce political and security cooperation, bilateral trade, economic and financial cooperation, cultural exchanges, tourism, and people-to-people ties. The third round of Pakistan-China bilateral political consultations (BPC) was held in Beijing. Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Khan led the Pakistan delegation while the Chinese side was led by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan's current account deficit hits two-year low – Deccan Herald

Curbs on imports by Pakistan began to yield results as the cash-strapped country's current account deficit (CAD) hit a two-year low of $74 million in a month, it emerged on Monday. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that "the current account deficit (was) recorded at $0.1 billion in February 2023 against a deficit of $0.5 billion in February 2022. "Cumulatively, CAD was reduced to $3.9 billion in (eight months) Jul-Feb FY23 compared to a deficit of $12.1 billion in July-Feb FY22," said the central bank. Click here to read... [21]

Desperate for Western aid, crisis-hit Pakistan to supply tanks to Ukraine – Firstpost

In order to survive the ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan is being forced to put its military assets on the line with the West pledging financial assistance in exchange for the supply tanks, ammunition and other defence supplies to Ukraine. According to media reports, Pakistan is mulling the transfer of 44 T-80UD main battle tanks (MBTs) to help Ukraine fortify its defence against Russia. Click here to read... [22]

Pakistan made ‘substantial progress’ by towards loan program: IMF – Hindustan Times

“A staff-level agreement will follow once the few remaining points are closed,” said Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF’s resident representative for Pakistan, referring to a key milestone to unlock a program expected to be worth $6.5 billion. “Ensuring there is sufficient financing to support the authorities in the implementation of their policy agenda is the paramount priority,” she added. Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said last week that the IMF wants to see countries finalize commitments they’ve made to help Pakistan shore up its funds. Click here to read... [23]

Imran Khan Writes To Top Judge To Investigate 'assassination Plot’ At His Lahore Residence – Republic World

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, on Monday, wrote to the Chief Justice of Pakistan saying that there is a "continuing threat to his life" and that there may be a plot to carry out an assault against him at his home, Pakistan's Geo TV reported. Khan requested a probe into the alleged scheming to kill him. PTI chief, in the letter, appealed to CJP Umar Ata Bandial to order a "comprehensive investigation" into "continuing threats" to his life. He alleged that the "assault" being plotted against him in Zaman Park residence must be thoroughly investigated. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

IMF Executive Board Approves US$3 Billion Under the New Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement for Sri Lanka - IMF

The IMF Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of SDR 2.286 billion (about US$3 billion) to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies and reforms. The objectives of the EFF-supported program are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, safeguarding financial stability, and stepping up structural reforms to unlock Sri Lanka’s growth potential. All program measures are mindful of the need to protect the most vulnerable and improving governance. Close collaboration between Sri Lanka and all its creditors will be critical to expedite a debt treatment that will restore debt sustainability consistent with program parameters. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka to be first country in Asia to come under IMF's governance diagnostic exercise – Economic Times

Sri Lanka will be the first country in Asia to undergo a governance diagnostic exercise by the IMF which will assess corruption and governance vulnerabilities in the debt-trapped country, the global lender said on Tuesday. The International Monetary Fund's Executive Board approved on Monday a 48-month extended arrangement under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (about USD 3 billion) to help Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis. The IMF emphasised the importance of anti-corruption and governance reforms as a central pillar of the EFF-supported programme. Click here to read... [26]

India to support development of livestock sector in Sri Lanka – Daily News

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay has expressed his agreement to provide the full support of the Indian government to revive the livestock development sector in Sri Lanka, which collapsed last year. On several occasions, the Indian High Commissioner discussed this matter with Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and in a discussion chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, he expressed his agreement to provide the support of the Indian government for the development of the livestock sector in this country. Click here to read... [27]