Neighbourhood News Digest- 8 December 2023

Afghanistan

Stanikzai: Ban on Girls' Schooling Cause of Distance with Public- Tolo News

The Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, stressed the importance of reopening schools for girl students beyond grade 6, saying that the main reasons people are distanced from the interim Afghan government is the continued ban on female education. Speaking at a graduation ceremony, the deputy foreign minister said that a society without knowledge is “dark”. Click here to read... [2]

India Says Afghan Embassy, Consulates 'Functioning'- Tolo News

Arindam Bagchi, spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said that the Afghan embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are functioning. Political analysts believe that the resumption of Afghan embassy’s activities will improve the relations between Kabul and Delhi. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

10th Round of Blockade: 15 vehicles torched in two days - The Daily Star

At least four vehicles were set on fire in the country yesterday, on last day of the 10th round of 48-hour blockade enforced by BNP and its allies. A total of 15 vehicles came under arson attacks in the two days of the 10th round of blockade. Despite the blockade, Dhaka's traffic remained almost normal. Click here to read... [4]

131 global observers willing to watch polls – The Daily Star

A total of 131 international observers and 46 foreign journalists have expressed interest in monitoring and covering the January 7 national election until yesterday, said Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam. Yesterday was the last date for international observers and foreign journalists to apply to monitor the election. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan & India on Joint Mission to Save Endangered Species in South Asia-Daily Mirror Online

In a landmark initiative, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have joined forces to tackle the rampant issue of wildlife trafficking and trade in South Asia. Recognizing the urgency of the matter and the interconnectedness of the region, these nations have embarked on a joint project to enhance the capabilities of their respective law enforcement agencies. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan launches Green Hydrogen Roadmap-Kuensel

As Bhutan commits to advancing the development of a green economy, it unveiled the Green Hydrogen Roadmap on 5 December at the ongoing Bhutan Pavilion in Dubai. The roadmap is part of Bhutan’s commitment to advancing the development of a green hydrogen economy to meet its energy and climate goals. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives

Maldives skips key Colombo Security Dialogue in Mauritius – WION

Maldives December 7 skipped key Colombo security dialogue held in Mauritius, raising eyebrows over the country's commitment to regional security cooperation mechanism that deals with challenges in the Indian ocean. The Colombo security dialogue involves India, Maldives, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka, and focuses on addressing security challenges in the Indian Ocean region. Notably, only the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius were present during the meeting. The development occurred on the same day when Maldives Vice President for the meeting of 'China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation,' organised by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). Click here to read... [8]

Motion calls on govt to disclose troop removal 'pact' with India- Sun Online

The Finance Ministry has submitted a proposed budget of MVR 49.5 billion. But during the review process, the committee added an additional MVR 306 million. This included MVR 249 million in additional funding for Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) projects – increasing the allocation for PSIP projects from MVR 8.6 billion to MVR 8.9 billion. 70 percent of the budget, totalling MVR 34.8 billion, is for recurrent expenditures. Click here to read... [9]

Myanmar

Fighting along border: India conveys security concerns to Myanmar - India Today

India on Thursday said it has conveyed to Myanmar its security concerns, especially the challenges along the border, including that of refugee flows, against the backdrop of the fighting between government forces and the anti-junta groups. The fighting near the Indo-Myanmar border has triggered an influx of Burmese refugees to Mizoram. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the issue figured in the India-Myanmar foreign office consultations that took place in New Delhi on Wednesday. Click here to read... [10]

Thailand, Myanmar to form aid task force as border unrest intensifies - Deccan Herald

Thailand hopes the plan will lead to constructive engagement between military-ruled Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, and the international community, it said in a statement. Click here to read... [11]

Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: Wang Yi holds talks with Myanmar deputy prime minister in Beijing – CGTN

On Wednesday, Wang said Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has always had a leading role in implementing these important principles. He added China and Myanmar are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners, and said Beijing is committed to strengthening ties across various fields, safeguarding border stability, and promoting common development. Wang and U Than Swe will co-chair the meeting with foreign ministers on Thursday. Click here to read... [12]

Nepal

Flovel commissions Upper Suri Khola hydropower project, Nepal - Water Power Magazine

Flovel has announced the successful commissioning of the Upper Suri Khola Hydropower Project in Gaurishankar, Dolakha, Nepal. The 2 x 3.5 MW project was commissioned and synchronized to the grid on November 25, 2023, and has now been officially handed over to the client, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower Ltd, for commercial operation. Click here to read... [13]

Asian Development Bank & World Bank join hands to boost Nepal’s hydropower sector - Devi Discourse

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) stipulating cooperation between the two institutions – Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) – for an initial period of five years was signed on the sidelines of COP28 by ADB Vice-President for Sectors and Themes Fatima Yasmin and World Bank Vice-President for South Asia Martin Raiser on Wednesday, a statement from the ADB said. Click here to read... [14]

Nepal government open to rethinking TikTok ban: Prime Minister Dahal - Asia News Network

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the ban on social media platform TikTok was not final. Talking to a group of editors at Singhadurbar on Monday, he said one of the reasons for the ban was intense pressure from his coalition partners, especially Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

FO cautious over reports Haqqani leader used ‘green passport’- The Dawn

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on December 7, cautiously addressed media reports alleging that Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghan Taliban’s Interior Minister and a senior leader of the Haqqani Network, in the past used a Pakistani passport for international travel. Responding to queries at the weekly media briefing, Ms Baloch stated that, “I have just seen the report. I do not have the facts to respond to your question. Maybe I will be able to comment on some other occasion when I have more information.” The revelation about Haqqani’s use of a Pakistani passport has raised serious questions about the nature of the relationship between the Taliban-led Afghan government and Pakistan. Click here to read... [16]

Election schedule likely on 14th- The News

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the much-awaited general elections, possibly on December 14, triggering cut-throat electioneering across the country. The commission recently published the final list of delimitations clearing a major hurdle to the announcement of the polls. It is in the final phase of appointment of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant officers as per the provisions of the Elections Act, 2017. Click here to read... [17]

Terrorists killed in Pakistan: MEA says 'no comment'- The Times of India

After unidentified gunmen shot dead a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist who masterminded the Pampore terror attack, the foreign ministry on December 7 refrained from commenting on the issue and said the government would like such individuals to come to India and face the legal system. Starting in May, several wanted terrorists have been killed in various Pakistani cities. They were all involved in terror attacks against Indian Security forces and other assets. Click here to read... [18]

Sri Lanka

More Sri Lankans to enlist in Ukrainian military – Daily Mirror Online

Nearly 70 former Sri Lankan military personnel, who have been legally discharged from the military, have reportedly applied to join the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, also known as the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, according to a former Sri Lankan military official based in Ukraine. These former officers and other ranks from Sri Lanka have already travelled to Azerbaijan, Dubai, and India to join Captain Ranish Hewage’s special unit, and they are waiting to proceed to Ukraine via Poland, as confirmed by the official. Click here to read... [19]

30,000 desert security forces since 2021: COPF reveals – Daily Mirror Online

Around 30,000 have deserted tri forces since 2021, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) revealed yesterday. This was revealed when they took up the supplementary estimate for Rs 16.5 billion which is to be used to settle outstanding payments for suppliers of food to the forces. Click here to read... [20]

India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka forge closer ties at sixth NSA-level meeting of Colombo Security Conclave – DD News

The National Security Advisers of India, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka, along with delegates from Seychelles and Bangladesh, convened in Mauritius for the sixth NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) on Thursday. During the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval highlighted the crucial role of the CSC in ensuring regional security and stability. He emphasized the significance of sustained engagements across various pillars of cooperation. The participants reached a consensus on a Roadmap of Activities for 2024, as reported by India's High Commission to Mauritius on X, formerly known as Twitter. Click here to read... [21]