Neighborhood News Digest – 05 October 2023

Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Taliban Needs To Meet Commitments To Get Legitimacy: US – NDTV

Two days after a Taliban-appointed Afghanistan minister reiterated that 'men and women are not equal' based on Sharia, the White House has said, the Taliban needs to meet its commitments to get legitimacy from the international community. Click here to read... [2]

Pakistan Announces 10% Process Fee on Items Imported From Afghanistan – Tolo News

The Pakistan government on Tuesday announced a 10 percent processing fee on items imported under the “Afghan Transit Trade Agreement,” Pakistani media reported. Dawn cited a notification (SRO1381 of 2023) of the Pakistan Customs Department, saying that the fee, calculated as 10pc ad valorem based on the original value of goods, must be paid in advance during the declaration process for Afghan transit commercial goods entering Afghanistan via Pakistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Japan Deepens Defense Ties With Bangladesh - The Diplomat

Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori announced in August that Bangladesh was among four countries selected by the Japanese government to receive defense aid under the Official Security Assistance (OSA), which is aimed at providing equipment, supplies and infrastructure development assistance to partner countries in the form of grants, rather than loans, to “reinforce” the region’s “comprehensive defense architecture.” Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh and USA discussed importance of improving bilateral ties: White House - India Today

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan last week during which they discussed the importance of improving the relationship between the two countries, the White House said. Click here to read... [5]

Opinion: Hasina still India’s best bet in Bangladesh - Telangana Today

As the US has started giving effect to its Bangladesh-specific visa policy, having been announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the recent past which would restrict visas for any Bangladeshi national believed to be undermining the democratic electoral process in Bangladesh, a new dimension has come up in subcontinental politics having serious connotations for India. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Bhutan is planning to reduce 'expensive' airfares. Here's why – Hindustan Times

In order to boost the tourism sector, Bhutan has planned to reduce the 'expensive' airfares to lower the price for visitors travelling to the country, Bhutan Live reported. According to country's Finance Minister, this step would result in uptick of travellers to the country and increase the number of visitors that visit the nation, as the "expensive" airfare frequently discourages travellers from travelling to Bhutan. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan King attends opening ceremony of last session of third Parliament – The Print

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck attended the opening ceremony of the last session of the third Parliament, The Bhutan Live reported. In a post shared on Instagram, Bhutan King stated, “1 October 2023: His Majesty The King graced the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Session of the Third Parliament this morning. This is the final session of the Third Parliament, following which Bhutan will prepare for the 4th parliamentary elections.” Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Maldives President meets Indian envoy, hopes to boost ties based on 'respect for sovereignty'

India’s High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Muhawar met the newly elected Maldivian President, Dr Mohammad Muizzu, on Wednesday. The new President is from the Progressive Party of Maldives.“It was a pleasure to call on President Muizzu and hand over a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi,’’ said Muhawar. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

An Inside Look at Myanmar Resistance Groups’ Weapons Manufacturing Factories - The Diplomat

About 40 miles north of Kalaymyo city in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region is a village whose residents have come out overwhelmingly in support of the armed resistance to the military regime. While some have joined the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), a small group has dedicated itself to manufacturing weapons to take on the regime forces. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar Junta Failing to Regain Kayah and Karen Territory: Rebel Groups - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s junta reportedly conducted more than 30 airstrikes on rebel-held territory to the east of Naypyitaw in September as its ground forces suffered heavy losses in ongoing battles. The Karen National Union (KNU) reported at least 84 clashes in its Brigade 5 territory in Papun District, Karen State, killing at least 39 junta troops in September. Click here to read... [11]

UN probe finds Myanmar army using forced labour - The Daily Star

A probe launched by the UN's labour agency found far-reaching violations of international forced labour and freedom of association conventions in the southeast Asian nation. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted the democratically-elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 2021 coup. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Nepal's Development Story: Indian-Funded Projects Thrive, While China's BRI Initiatives Falter – Swarajya

Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', addressed Nepal Parliament, revealing that during his recent meetings with Chinese leaders, discussions centred around various initiatives. These included the construction of a transmission line in the northern border region, the establishment of solar power plants along the border, the development of several roads, and the expansion of collaboration in the health and agriculture sectors. Click here to read... [13]

As NHRC downgrade date approaches, pressure builds on office bearers to quit – The Kathmandu Post

With less than three weeks remaining for the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to officially decide on downgrading the National Human Rights Commission from its global “A” ranking, human rights defenders in Nepal have asked the office bearers of the commission to do what they can to prevent the demotion. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

2 dead, 1 injured in ‘unprovoked, indiscriminate’ firing by Afghan sentry on pedestrians at Chaman border: ISPR – Dawn

At least two people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed on Wednesday when an Afghan sentry opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing on pedestrians at the Chaman border in Balochistan, the military’s media affairs wing said. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan: Imran Khan's bail plea in cipher case to be heard in open court – Firstpost

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ruled that jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case would take place in an open court on October 9, as it disposed of a petition by the country’s top investigation agency seeking in-camera proceedings of the bail plea. Click here to read... [16]

‘Unacceptable’: Taliban as Pakistan threatens to expel illegal Afghan immigrants – India Today

Pakistan's threat to forcibly expel illegal Afghan immigrants is "unacceptable", a spokesperson for the Taliban administration in Kabul said on Wednesday, adding that Afghans were not to blame for Pakistan's security problems. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's garment exports down 20% to $3,020 mn in Jan-Aug 2023 - Fibre2Fashion

Sri Lanka's garment exports in January-August 2023 were valued at $3,020.3 million, marking a 20 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2022. This fall can be attributed to the global economic slowdown. During January-August 2023, textile exports slightly dropped by 1.4 per cent, while other manufactured textile articles saw a 16.9 per cent decline. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka central bank resumes rate cuts to boost growth - Investing.com

Sri Lanka's central bank reduced key its policy rates by 100 basis points on Thursday, as expected, doubling down on efforts to spur growth and finalise the first review of a $2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) lowered the standing deposit facility rate and the standing lending facility rate to 10% and 11%, respectively, it said in a statement, to put the crisis-hit economy on a firmer growth footing. Click here to read... [19]

China stalling IMF relief for debt grip Sri Lanka: Report - The Print

Sri Lanka’s is facing a big challenge from its largest bilateral lender, China to secure a concrete debt relief framework, as it is blocking access to desperately needed cash bailout of 3 billion US dollars’ from International Monetary fund, Nikkei Asia reported. Click here to read... [20]