Neighborhood News Digest – 17 November 2023

Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Envoy: ‘We Will Recognize Taliban Regime Simultaneously’- Tolo News

Asif Durrani, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that Pakistan will not unilaterally take steps to recognize the current Afghan government. Speaking at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Durrani said that they will act simultaneously with other countries to recognize the government of Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

UN Human Rights Chief ‘alarmed’ by reported abuse of Afghan refugees in Pakistan- ABC 17 News

United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said he is “alarmed” by reports that Afghan refugees are being abused in Pakistan as the country carries out its policy of forced mass deportation. In a statement on November 17, Türk expressed concern at reports that “the arbitrary expulsion of Afghan nationals from Pakistan has been accompanied by abuse, including ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, destruction of property and personal belongings, and extortion.” https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/11/16/un-human-rights-chief-alarmed-by-reported-abuse-of-afghan-refugees-in-pakistan/ [3] " target="_blank">Click here to read...

Expelled migrants, especially Afghan women from Pakistan, face uncertainty in Afghanistan- The Khaama Press

Pakistan’s unprecedented decision to expel over a million undocumented Afghan migrants starting from November this year has led to more than 327,000 Afghan migrants returning to their country, according to OCHA, the coordinating office for humanitarian assistance. Women remain concerned about their children’s education and request humanitarian organizations to provide educational opportunities for them. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Cyclone Midhili to graze coast on way to Bangladesh, Kolkata to get light rain - Times of India

The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Friday that will lightly drench Kolkata as it grazes past the Bengal coastline on its way to Bangladesh at wind speeds of up to 80km per hour, the Met department has said. Click here to read... [5]

BSF deploys drones to check cattle smuggling along Bangladesh border - New Indian Express

The Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Bangladesh border has deployed drones to check crimes, including illegal crossing and cattle-smuggling. The security force, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that BSP personnel had an encounter with cattle smugglers on Wednesday, owing to the drones. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma convenes meeting for overhaul of key roadways connecting Bhutan - India Today

In a move to bolster connectivity between Assam and Bhutan, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma convened a meeting on November 16, 2023, with officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and other concerned authorities. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the current state of highways and roads connecting the two regions and to issue directives for their maintenance and repair. Click here to read... [7]

India-Bhutan Relations: King Jigme's Visit and the Looming Shadow of China - The Quint

The King of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, recently concluded a week long visit to India (3 November to 10 November). The King met with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the External Affairs Minister S Jaishanker. During this visit he went to Assam, Delhi and Maharashtra. The delegation consisted of high-level officials. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Dr. Muizzu announces plan to begin withdrawal of Indian military personnel on First Day- Avas

President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's plans for the first day of administration include withdrawal efforts of Indian military personnel in the Maldives, he has revealed. Dr. Muizzu, set to be sworn in as President on November 17, unveiled his plans for the first 100 days of administration. According to Dr. Muizzu, withdrawal efforts are set to commence immediately upon assuming office. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives to appeal ITLOS decision on territorial dispute with Mauritius- Avas

The incoming administration will appeal the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) decision on the territorial dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius. The disputed waters between the Maldives and Mauritius cover an area of 95,000 km². On April 28 this year, ITLOS accorded 47,232 km², the larger portion of the overlapping area, to the Maldives and 45,331 km² of the disputed area to Mauritius. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Morning brief: Dozen people shot dead amid Myanmar's civil war, Biden hails IPEF progress, and more - Wion News

US President Joe Biden spoke on workers' rights and hailed the 'substantial' progress on Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. In Myanmar, a dozen civilians were shot dead in yet another Civil War flashpoint. Besides, YouTubers must disclose the use of Artificial Intelligence, according to platform's new rules. Click here to read... [11]

Moderate earthquake shakes northeast Myanmar - Financial Express

A moderate earthquake shook northeast Myanmar on Friday morning. The 5.7 magnitude quake was centered about 76 km southwest of the town of Keng Tung in Shan state, according to the US Geological Survey. It was about 10 km deep. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

EU to provide Nepal Rs289 million in humanitarian aid - Asia News Network

The European Union has provided Nepal Rs289 million in humanitarian aid for the quake-affected people. The union approved the aid package to provide shelter, access to clean water and sanitation, and healthcare, among other services to the survivors of the recent Jajarkot earthquake, said the EU in a press release issued from Brussels. Click here to read... [13]

Nepalese devotees eager to attend Ayodhya's Ram temple inauguration; visit of President, PM yet to be confirmed - Devi Discourse

By Ashoke Raj Many Nepalese devotees are eager to visit Ayodhya on the inauguration day of the Ram Temple in January next year, as confirmed by Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma. Click here to read... [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan secures highest votes to be re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board- The News

In a major achievement on the international front, Pakistan was re-elected on November 15, as the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027. In a statement, Pakistan’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO based in Paris, said Pakistan received the highest number of votes in the group. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan Foreign Office denies arms sale to Ukraine- The Hindustan Times

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated "I reaffirm what we have said in the past that Pakistan has not sold weapons to Ukraine or to Russia”. Baloch also said that Pakistan was not in a position to confirm what weaponry was being used by the parties in the conflict. She said that Pakistan's exports of weapons to countries were accompanied by end-user certificates and “we expect the parties which import Pakistani weapons to respect those end user commitments”. Click here to read... [16]

Sri Lanka

Mitra Shakti 2023: With focus on sub-conventional ops, India, Sri Lanka begin joint military exercise in Pune– Indian Express

Both India and Sri Lanka had agreed to increase the complexity of their bilateral military exercises. Contingents began the ninth edition of the joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ on November 16, at the Foreign Training Node in Pune with a focus on sub-conventional operations. India is being represented by a contingent of 120 personnel and officers from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment and 15 air warriors and officers from the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Sri Lankan side is being represented by personnel from Sri Lankan Army’s 53 Infantry Division and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka faces uphill battle in meeting 2024 budget targets: Fitch- Daily Mirror

Fitch believes there are significant risks to the government’s revenue goal for 2024. Sri Lanka has a record of fiscal slippage and revenue collection fell 29 percent short of target over 9M23. The authorities aim to raise revenue by almost 45 percent in 2024. This will be aided by a planned 3 percent increase in the Value-Added Tax to 18 percent but the boost to revenue from inflation is set to weaken in 2024. We project consumer prices will rise by 8.7 percent on average in 2024, compared with 22.1 percent in 2023. The lift from economic growth, which Fitch projects at 3.3 percent in 2024, will also be modest. Click here to read... [18]