Neighbourhood News Digest - 30 May 2023

Afghanistan

Iran vs Afghanistan: Why Helmand water-sharing dispute is boiling over, decades after treaty – The Print

With Afghanistan and Iran locked in a water dispute, tension between the two neighbours has escalated after two Iranian security personnel and a Taliban fighter were killed in a border clash Saturday. The dispute is over the Helmand River, a critical source of drinking water, irrigation and fishing for both countries. While the two countries signed a treaty on sharing water resources in 1973, it was never ratified, leaving the Helmand’s waters a topic of dispute. Click here to read... [2]

Iran says security guaranteed on border with Afghanistan after clashes - Siasat

A top Iranian military commander has said that the security of Iran’s common border with Afghanistan is fully guaranteed as it is completely under the control of Iranian Army’s Ground Force. Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Kioumars Heydari made the remarks during a visit to Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province that borders Afghanistan, one day after armed clashes between Iranian border guards and Taliban fighters in the area killed three people, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. Click here to read... [3]

Afghanistan Accepted into China’s Belt & Road Initiative – Silk Road Briefing

China and Pakistan have agreed to extend the Belt and Road Initiative into Afghanistan, potentially drawing in billions of dollars to fund infrastructure projects in the sanctions-hit country, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. The agreement was reached in Islamabad on Sunday (May 28). Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh believes in peace, not in conflict: PM – New Age

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said that Bangladesh believed in peace and would do whatever was required for peace. ‘We believe in peace, not in conflict. Bangladesh always believes in peace and it would do all possible things whatever is required to establish peace,’ she said. The prime minister made this remark while addressing an event marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka. Click here to read... [5]

UN special rapporteur urges govt to suspend DSA – New Age

The United Nation’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, on Monday expressed his grave concern over the misuse of the Digital Security Act to create a climate of fear and censorship. At a press conference in the city, the UN special rapporteur expressed alarm at the chilling effect on the ability of civil society organisations to operate freely due to the Digital Security Act. Click here to read... [6]

A hitch in Bangladesh-US relations? - ORF

The US enjoys goodwill amongst the citizens of Bangladesh, which increased during the pandemic as the US donated more than 100 million vaccine doses to Bangladesh, which proved instrumental in the country’s national inoculation process. However, in recent years, the harmonious relations has been marred by the US’s discontentment with Bangladesh’s domestic socio-political scenario. The root cause of the discord in US-Bangladesh relations is the former’s dissatisfaction with the human rights and democracy situation in the latter. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan

Bhutan getting hotter - Kuensel

Temperature projections show that by the end of the century, Bhutan could witness a rise in temperature by 3.2 degrees – especially in the highlands triggered by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic development. This was highlighted during the first-ever “Bhutan Climate Roundtable” that was held in Thimphu last week. Hydrology and Water Services Division’s chief, Tayba Buddha Tamang said that the temperature projections are associated with RCP 8.5 which represents higher GHG emissions. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan plans on working with crypto companies – NerdBot

Bhutan is investing in all kinds of technologies including the crypto space and they are willing to partner with crypto companies that are based in Singapore. The progressive Southeast Asian country has tons of crypto companies that are ready to help any client to become more progressive too. The primary aspect of tech that Bhutan is looking into is Bitcoin mining. That is a huge shift because they have always been a country that focuses on being carbon negative. They are ready to showcase that they are ready for the future and they are adapting to technological innovations. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives

Maldives confirms 26 new Covid-19 cases, seven hospital admissions - Raajje

26 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed across the Maldives. In its latest figures publicized on Monday, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed that 26 new Covid-19 infections were reported between May 21 – 27. Most of the new cases were confirmed from the congested capital of Maldives, Malé City; 16. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says - Washington Post

Bangladesh should not bear the burden of more than 1 million Rohingya refugees alone while U.N. agencies are facing challenges to feed them, a United Nations official said Monday. Olivier De Schutter, a U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, made the statement at the end of a 12-day trip to Bangladesh, where he visited camps sheltering the refugees from Myanmar. He said the international response to meet the funds needed to support the refugees is “grossly insufficient.” Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar’s intelligence war: the battle of wits and wiles against the junta - Lowly Institute

Myanmar has always been controlled through powerful intelligence agencies. The British colonial government relied heavily on intelligence collected through its police forces. After Ne Win’s coup in 1962, the Military Intelligence Service was an ever-present threat to Myanmar’s citizens. Between 1983 and 2004, the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence and Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence exercised enormous influence over Myanmar’s national affairs. Click here to read... [12]

Why Rohingya repartition plan to Myanmar has hit a roadblock - Daiji World

The million Rohingya refugees living in squalid camps in southeast Bangladesh refused to be resettled into another encampment in Myanmar. The refusal of the refugees to return to Myanmar has not come as a surprise. They argue that unless Myanmar guarantees their citizenship rights, freedom of movement, access to livelihood, healthcare and education, a sustainable repartition will be half-hearted. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

Controversy in Nepal over defence purchases from China – The Economic Times

Ahead of the Nepalese Prime Minister's India visit this week a controversy has erupted in Nepal over its army's plans to procure 26 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from China's North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco), a state-owned company that has been blacklisted by the United States and was allegedly involved in supplying arms to insurgents in the northeast in the past. Click here to read... [14]

Bhutanese refugee scam takes its toll, Nepal’s former PM Oli now in firing line – India Narrative

In a major setback to Nepal’s big political parties which appear to be losing popular support, some of the key leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress and main opposition—CPN (UML) faced criminal charges for their alleged involvement in a fake Bhutanese refugees scam. District Attorney Office, Kathmandu on May 24, filed criminal cases at Kathmandu District Court against 30 individuals including former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand, accusing their involvement in collecting money from several people with the promise of sending them to the US in disguise of Bhutanese refugees. Click here to read... [15]

Neighbourhood First: PMs of India and Nepal to talk energy, trade, connectivity and more – Financial Express

Several agreements related to agriculture, energy, and trade, are on the agenda of bilateral talks when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, later this week. Focus will also be on connectivity, health, education and Development partnership between the two countries. Accompanied by a high level delegation, his four day visit starting May 31-June 3 is his first bilateral overseas visit since he took office last December. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal honours Sherpa guides, climbers to mark 70th anniversary of Mount Everest conquest – The Hindu

Nepal's government honoured record-holding climbers on May 29 during celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Everest 70 years ago. Hundreds of people from the mountaineering community, Sherpa guides and officials attended a rally in Kathmandu to mark the anniversary. Participants waved celebratory banners and walked in the center of Kathmandu to tunes played by military bands. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan

Pak: Joint Investigation Team summons Imran Khan for May 9 attack on Jinnah House – The Print

A joint investigation team probing the violent attack on the historic Corps Commander House or the Jinnah House here on May 9 has summoned former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday. Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been asked to appear before the JIT at 4 pm at the Qilla Gujjar police headquarters in Lahore. He has been called for questioning in a case registered with the Sarwar Road police station against the attack. Click here to read... [18]

Number theory: Why Pakistan's current account surplus may spell bad news for the economy – Hindustan Times

While Pakistan has managed to put a lid on its external problems, its domestic economic crisis is far from over. Pakistan recorded a surplus in its current account for the second consecutive month in April, as per the data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on May 17, shrinking the ongoing fiscal year’s current account deficit by a massive 76% to $3.3 billion in July-April compared to the same period last year. Click here to read... [19]

BrahMos missile misfiring into Pakistan cost India ₹24 crore, Centre tells Delhi HC – Hindustan Times

Opposing a petition by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma against his termination from service, the Centresaid the trial of three officers was “inexpedient”. The accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March last year affected the relations of the nation with the neighbouring country and led to a loss of ₹24 crore to the state exchequer, the Union government told the Delhi high court while justifying the dismissal of three IAF (Indian Air Force) officers, including a Wing Commander, for gross negligence. Click here to read... [20]

IMF Aims for $6.7 Billion Pakistan Loan Decision by End-June – Bloomberg

The International Monetary Fund is working with Pakistan’s government as the cash-strapped country aims for a decision on the resumption of its $6.7 billion bailout by the end of June. “IMF staff continues the engagement with the Pakistani authorities to pave the way for a Board meeting before the current program expires at end-June,” Nathan Porter, IMF mission chief for Pakistan, said in an emailed statement late Monday. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan Poses Significant Threat To Norway, Threat Assessment Report Reveals – Republic World

In a recently released threat assessment report by the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), Pakistan has been identified as a country that poses a significant threat to Norway, particularly in terms of the proliferation of sensitive technology. The report warns that Pakistan may employ illegal means to obtain details about advanced technology, raising concerns over the potential development of advanced weapons systems and weapons of mass destruction. These findings have sparked calls for stricter export regulations. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

ADB Approves $350 Million In Budgetary Support To Sri Lanka – Outlook

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday approved a USD 350 million special policy-based loan to provide budget support to Sri Lanka for its economic stabilisation but warned that the cash-strapped country faced a long road to recovery. The programme approved by the Manila-based ADB is part of a broader package of financial assistance anchored by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility for the country, the bank said in a statement. Click here to read... [23]

Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Sri Lanka for 12th Round of Diplomatic Consultations – Daily News

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka has announced that the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Sun Weidong will lead a Foreign Ministry delegation to Sri Lanka from 29 May to 01 June 2023, to co-chair the 12th round of Diplomatic Consultations between the two countries with Secretary, Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Mrs. Aruni Wijewardane. The discussions are expected to enable the two countries to assess the status of bilateral relations covering political, economic and cultural cooperation, as well as thematic cooperation and people-to-people contacts. Click here to read... [24]

Cross-party discussion on Anti-Corruption Bill – Daily News

Closing the implementation gap between law and practice it is important to see the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill becoming a success, the Government and Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), who took part in a roundtable discussion, jointly emphasized…The MPs were briefed on the required improvements to the legislation which can be incorporated in the Committee Stage (Third Reading) of the Bill. The event was conducted with due regard to and respect for the fact that the Bill is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court. Click here to read... [25]