Neighborhood News Digest – 27 July 2023

Afghanistan

UAE: Foreign Minister meets UN-appointed special coordinator for independent assessment on Afghanistan - The Statesman

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of UAE, today met with Ambassador Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu, UN-appointed Special Coordinator for the Independent Assessment of the Situation in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh economy to expand 6-6.4% annually from 2024 to 2026: S&P - Fibre2Fashion

Bangladesh's long-term rating outlook was recently lowered by S&P Global Ratings to negative from stable, citing risks, and the ratings agency expects the country’s economy to expand by 6-6.4 per cent annually between 2024 and 2026. Click here to read... [3]

Bhutan

Energy Market Reforms in Bhutan: Lessons Learned and Future Directions - Energy Portal

Bhutan, a small landlocked country in South Asia, has made significant strides in its energy market reforms over the past few years. With a predominantly hydropower-based energy sector, the country has managed to harness its abundant water resources to generate electricity, thereby meeting domestic demand and exporting surplus power to neighboring countries like India. As Bhutan continues to develop its energy market, it is essential to examine the lessons learned from its past experiences and explore future directions to ensure sustainable growth. Click here to read... [4]

Maldives

Maldives Elections: Pro-China Opposition’s “India Out” Drive Cashing In on Modi - the Quint

New Delhi’s pre-eminence is under grave threat in poll-bound Maldives where India is heavily invested to keep Beijing at bay. The situation is all the more challenging because the predominantly Muslim archipelago is a rare success story for Indian neighbourhood diplomacy in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no less, has personally played a key role by befriending his counterpart. Click here to read... [5]

Myanmar

Manipur on edge as violence erupts near Myanmar border - The Tribune

Despite all-out efforts by the security agencies to bring peace and normalcy to ethnic strife-hit Manipur, a fresh incident of violence was reported from the state today when a large mob torched nearly 30 empty houses and demolished several others in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh. A delegation of ruling NDA Rajya Sabha MPs from the Northeast on Wednesday met House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and demanded immediate listing of a discussion on Manipur violence. Security officials said a 2,000-strong mob, comprising men and women, launched an attack on Moreh Bazar. They said the arson came hours after two buses used by the forces to transport personnel were set on fire by a mob in Kangpokpi district. Click here to read... [6]

Nepal

Mapping China’s growing influence at local level in Nepal: What India can do - Financial Express

Nepal holds a significant place in China’s South Asia assertiveness which is prominently visible in recent years as the Communist Party of China is overtly meddling in the domestic politics of Kathmandu. But China has not limited itself to the higher echelons of Nepali politics but has spread its tentacles deep into the local political discourse of the tiny Himalayan country. Click here to read... [7]

Pakistan

Pakistan's focus on IMF deal amid rising terrorism in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province - Live Mint

The IMF has approved a $3 billion bailout package for Pakistan, with additional support from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and China. However, Pakistan is still struggling economically. Meanwhile, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to rise. Click here to read... [8]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka President To Hold All-Party Meeting On Reconciliation Of Tamils - NDTV

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday will hold an all-party meeting to discuss the thorny issue of ethnic reconciliation of minority Tamils in the island nation. The meeting was called by the President to discuss the Government's National Reconciliation Programme and the way forward. The all-party move comes closely on the heels of the president's two-day visit to India last week where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Click here to read... [9]