Neighborhood News Digest – 20 April 2023

Afghanistan

US watchdog ‘cannot assure’ Afghanistan aid not going to Taliban - Aljazeera

The head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has decried a lack of transparency from United States agencies that he said has made it impossible to determine if aid allocated to the people of Afghanistan is instead “currently funding the Taliban”. During a fiery testimony on Wednesday to the US House Oversight Committee, Special Inspector John Sopko accused the State Department and other agencies of failing to provide legally mandated information that would allow the watchdog to perform its oversight duties. Click here to read... [2]

UN chief to convene meeting to work on way forward on Afghanistan - Reuters

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will convene envoys on Afghanistan from various countries next month to work on a unified approach to dealing with the Taliban authorities, the United Nations said on Wednesday. The closed-door meeting in Doha on May 1-2 was announced after U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed suggested on Monday the gathering "could find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition ... of the Taliban, a principled recognition - in other words, there are conditions." Click here to read... [3]

The Strategic Logic of Russia’s Embrace of the Taliban - Diplomat

Amid new geopolitical conditions, Russia has reinvigorated its diplomatic efforts with Afghanistan as it seeks to reassert itself as a security guarantor in the wider region. On April 6, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister. Both parties stressed greater political, security, and economic cooperation. The meeting came after several remarks from Russia concerning the risks and security threats that Afghanistan poses to the Central Asian countries. The bilateral visit is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic meetings between Russia and Afghanistan. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Living along a 'dead' river in Bangladesh - Reuters

Two decades ago Nurul Islam, 70, earned his living by fishing in the Buriganga river that flows southwest of the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka and was once its lifeline. Now, with hardly any fish to be found in the 'dead' river, thanks to pollution from widespread dumping of industrial and human waste, Islam now sells street food on a small cart nearby to make ends meet. "Twenty years ago this river water was good. It was full of life," said Islam, whose family has been living on the bank of the river for generations. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh PM likely to visit Japan next week – New Age

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Tokyo on April 25 on a four-day official visit at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. According to officials at the foreign ministry, at least 10 treaties and documents relating to cooperation in various areas, including defence, cyber security, communication infrastructure, information, communication technology, and agriculture, are expected to be signed during the PM’s visit to Japan. Click here to read... [6]

In Bangladesh, the Price of Criminalising Suicide is High – The Wire

Bangladesh, a country of 169 million people, records approximately 10,000 suicides every year; a figure researchers say is steadily increasing. Suicide and suicide attempts are classified as criminal offences in Bangladesh. Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 which Bangladesh inherited as a colonial tradition, provides police with the authority to arrest and courts to punish people who attempt suicide. As a result, patients frequently leave hospital without completing treatment to avoid legal proceedings. People are generally afraid of sharing suicide intent or seeking help or admitting previous suicide attempts to avoid social or legal harassment. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Nation gears for fourth NC Poll Day – Kuensel

Voters across Bhutan will decide the fate of the 89 National Council candidates in 20 dzongkhags tomorrow. Many from Thimphu are moving to their homes in the dzongkhags to vote. Voting at the polling stations will begin at 8am and end at 5pm. All voters have to carry their valid Citizenship Identity Card or Voter Photo Identity Card (VPIC) to the polling station. Click here to read... [8]

Potential Implications of the Bangladesh-Bhutan Transit Agreement – Modern Diplomacy

As Bhutan is a landlocked South Asian state, it requires cooperation from bordering and neighboring states to meet its export and import. In this aspect, the transit agreement will increase its cooperation with Bangladesh. Bhutan mainly relied on India to move its goods for a long time. Signing a transit agreement with Bangladesh will diversify its trade route. Moreover, Bhutan will greatly benefit by reducing its transit dependence on India. Due to the Sino-Indian rivalry over Bhutan, reducing transit dependence on India will also benefit Bhutan politically by easing geopolitical tension. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

State expenditure reaches MVR 13 .5 billion – Raajje

The state has spent more than MVR 13 billion by 13 April, 2023. Statistics revealed by the Ministry of Finance show that the government expenditure is more than the amount they spent during the same period last year. As such, while the state has so far spent MVR 13.5 billion in 2023. For the same period of 2022, the government expenditure was recorded at MVR 11.2 billion. Click here to read... [10]

State revenue reaches MVR 9.8 billion – Raajje

Ministry of Finance has revealed that the state revenue has reached MVR 9.8 billion so far in 2023. Statistics released by the Finance Ministry show that the state revenue was at MVR 9.8 billion by 13 April 2023. The state revenue at 13 April, 2022 was MVR 7.9 billion. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar Supreme Court to hear appeal of jailed former leader Suu Kyi - Reuters

The Supreme Court in military-ruled Myanmar will hear an appeal by deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi against her convictions for corruption and violating election and state secrets laws, according to a source familiar with the matter. Click here to read... [12]

Air quality plummets in Nepal, B’desh, Myanmar, parts of India: ICIMOD – Shillong Times

The Kathmandu-based ICIMOD is a regional inter-governmental learning and knowledge-sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Click here to read... [13]

Atrocity Alert No. 343: Sudan, Myanmar (Burma) and China - Global R2P

Last Tuesday, 11 April, the Myanmar (Burma) military perpetrated an airstrike on a gathering at an administrative office in Pa Zi Gyi, Sagaing Region. The military, also known as the Tatmadaw, first bombed the village via fighter jets and then reportedly fired from Mi-35 helicopters at those escaping the destroyed buildings. Over 165 people, including women and dozens of young children, were reportedly killed, the highest death toll in an attack since the February 2021 coup. The attack was carried out with little regard for civilian lives and the rules of international law. Although the military acknowledged its responsibility for the airstrike, it claimed it was targeting members and arms of the People’s Defense Forces. One day prior, at least 12 people were also killed in an airstrike in Chin State. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal

Legal doubts over Constitutional Council meeting – The Kathmandu Post

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a meeting of the Constitutional Council for Friday after consulting KP Oli, the leader of the main opposition CPN-UML, as well as Sher Bahadur Deuba, the leader of the largest parliamentary party Nepali Congress. The prime minister’s office itself has blamed the delay in constitutional appointments on a lack of necessary laws, and a bill to amend the Constitutional Council Act (2010) is currently in Parliament. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi for medical treatment - The Indian Express

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel was airlifted to India for treatment on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to a hospital here for the second time this month as he complained of shortness of breath, his press aide said. Paudel, 78, was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital here on Tuesday. A preliminary investigation has revealed that he had a chest infection. Click here to read... [16]

Indian companies agree to buy 2200MW of power from Nepal in big boost to South Asian energy partnership – India Narrative

Indian companies agreed to purchase 2,200MW of electricity from Nepal’s hydropower projects during the power summit organised in Kathmandu on Tuesday and Wednesday, Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) said. This is the significant quantity of power likely to be sold in India if deals are materialised at a time when Nepal’s total installed capacity of power projects is expected to reach 2,853MW by the end of the current fiscal year ending in mid-July this year, according to Nepal Electricity Authority, state-owned power utility body of Nepal. Click here to read... [17]

Conversion in Nepal : Attempt is being made to change demography - Organiser

Miracle in the typical Christian missionaries’ style is happening in the erstwhile Hindu Kingdom of Nepal. The magic of this miracle embedded in the infamous aggressive proselytising has made Christianity as the fastest-growing religion in this Himalayan country. From 458 Christians in 1961 to constituting around 1.4 per cent (2011 Census) till 2011 and now touching around 10 per cent of the total population (Federation of National Churches of Nepal), the number of people finding ‘new meaning’ to their lives by abandoning their traditional religions are growing rapidly. This huge change in the demography of Nepal comes with serious socio-religious and political consequences. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Pakistan heading towards constitutional crisis – The Print

Differences between the top judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government has exacerbated to seemingly a point of no return. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial headed SCP bench remains adamant about holding provincial elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite the government’s disapproval, reported The Express Tribune. Click here to read... [19]

Pakistan government shares plan with IMF to secure additional $3 billion support – The Telegraph

Debt-ridden Pakistan has shared its plan with the IMF to secure an additional USD 3 billion to meet the mandatory financing assurances laid by the global lender for it to release the country's stalled bailout plan, it emerged on Wednesday. The Washington-based global lender had asked Pakistan to arrange USD 6 billion in external financing but so far only USD 3 billion were arranged after Saudi Arabia agreed to provide USD 2 billion and the UAE pledged USD 1 billion. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan authorities urge apex court to reconsider its order on elections in Punjab on May 14 due to security issues – The Hindu

Citing security and financial reasons, Pakistan’s defence authorities and election officials have urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its order to hold elections in the politically crucial Punjab province on May 14. A three-member panel of the court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on April 4 in its judgment ruled that elections should be held in the largest province on time and asked the government to provide ₹21 billion (Pakistani Rs.) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan signs pact with UK for supply of rockets to Ukraine – The Economic Times

Pakistan will soon ship 122 mm high explosive Yarmuk rockets for multi-barrel rocket launchers via Karachi port to Ternopil Oblast Ukraine, said the people. Just as in the past, the shipments will use the Polish port of Gdańsk to reach Ukraine, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Ukraine has been facing shortage of arms and ammunition and Pakistan has emerged as a key supplier of defence equipment in lieu of western aid. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka planning to send 1,00,000 toque macaque monkeys to China - Wion

Sri Lanka has found an innovative way to fight its economic situation. The South Asian nation is apparently planning to export 1,00,000 endangered monkeys to China. Sri Lankan Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, recently announced that the government is considering a proposal to send 1,00,000 toque macaque monkeys to China to place in 1,000 of its zoos. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka's local body polls formally postponed indefinitely due to non-availability of funds - ToI

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Wednesday formally announced the indefinite postponement of the local body polls scheduled to be held on April 25. District Returning Officers of the respective districts issued gazette notifications saying the election would not take place on Tuesday, as the Treasury is yet to release the required fund for the polls. The local body polls, which were earlier scheduled on March 9, got postponed to April 25, due to a plethora of reasons linked to Sri Lanka's current economic crisis. Click here to read... [24]

Church in Sri Lanka launches human chain for truth on Easter Bombings – Vatican News

As the Church in Sri Lanka prepares to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, on 21 April, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo has invited Srilankan Christians and of other religious creeds to join a human chain protest (Jana Paura) next Friday, supporting the Church’s quest for truth and justice over the attacks. Click here to read... [25]