Neighbourhood News Digest - 02 February 2024

Afghanistan

Engaging With Afghanistan At Regional, International Level: Centre – NDTV

India has been engaging with Afghanistan at both the regional as well as international level by attending several meetings in various formats, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Responding to media queries on New Delhi's engagements with Kabul, the official spokesperson of the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have been attending several meetings on Afghanistan in various formats, both on a regional level as well as the international level." Click here to read... [2]

Kabul Reacts to UNSC Report, Saying Counter Terrorism Main Principle – Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate in reaction to the United Nations Security Council’s report said that counterterrorism is the main principle of the interim Afghan government. This comes as the UNSC in its recent report said al-Qaida was reported to have established up to eight new training camps in Afghanistan, including four in Ghazni, Laghman, Parwan and Uruzgan Provinces, with a new base to stockpile weapons in the Panjshir Valley. Click here to read... [3]

Pakistan urges Kabul to deliver ‘Terrorist Group Leader’ to Islamabad – The Khaama Press

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zura Baloch, has once again urged the Taliban to take “immediate and effective” steps against “terrorist” groups. Ms. Baloch made this request during a press conference on Thursday, February 1st, asking the Taliban to deliver the leaders of these groups to Islamabad. Pakistan has expressed concerns about terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan and has raised these concerns with the Taliban. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Railways minister seeks cooperation from UAE for development of rail – Dhaka Tribune

Railways Minister Md Zillul Hakim sought cooperation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the development of a rail communication system. The minister made the call when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali Abdulla Khaseif AlHmoudi held a meeting with the latter at his office in Rail Bhaban in Dhaka on February 1. Addressing the bilateral relations established by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the UAE, he called for further strengthening the relations in the days to come. Click here to read... [5]

Saima Wazed takes charge as WHO's Southeast Asia regional director – Hindustan Times

Saima Wazed, daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on February 1 assumed charge as regional director of World Health Organization's Southeast Asia region. She was nominated to lead the region by member countries of WHO Southeast Asia at the regional committee session on November 1, 2023 here and appointed by the WHO executive board on January 23 in Geneva. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Bhutan gets lion’s share in MEA development aid – The Indian Express

Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Mauritius have got the lion’s share of the Ministry of External Affairs’ development assistance for 2024-25. The MEA’s total development assistance to various countries and regions such as Latin America and Eurasia has been pegged at Rs 4,883 crore. Click here to read... [7]

CFM has over Nu 6M in irregularities, RAA reports – Kuensel

The Centenary Farmers’ Market (CFM) has reported a shortfall in income of more than Nu 6 million (M), according to the Annual Audit Report for the fiscal year 2022-23. According to the audit report, the CFM management procured a Hakomatic ride-on scrubber cleaning B910 machine in 2014 for which the management paid Nu 2.2 million. This according to auditors indicates a significant price disparity compared to the price paid for a similar machine with minor differences in features supplied to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital by the same supplier. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Maldives envoy says 'all good' with India as he reaches Parliament – The Hindustan Times

Jaishankar commented on Maldives and said every neighbourhood as problems but at the end of the day, neighbours need each other. High commissioner of Maldives Ibrahim Shaheeb on Wednesday said everything is good between India and the Maldives -- as he reached Parliament ahead of the Budget session. The comment came amid a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Male over PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Click here to read... [9]

India cuts aid to Maldives, grants to other foreign nations see a drop too – India Today

India has proposed cutting aid to the Maldives by 22 per cent for the 2024-25 financial year, as per the Interim Budget document released by the government on February 2. Maldives has been allocated Rs 600 crore for developmental assistance, the third highest in aid to foreign countries by the government. In 2023-24, Maldives was given Rs 770.90 crore as aid, an increase of over 300 per cent from the Rs 183.16 crore granted in 2022-23. Click here to read... [10]

Pakistan Assures Maldives of Its Support to Address "Development Needs" – NDTV

During a telephone conversation with President Mohamed Muizzu, on February 2, Pakistan's caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar discussed ways to fortify the bilateral ties between the two nations. Pakistan assured the Maldives of its support to address the "pressing development needs" of the island nation in the Indian Ocean. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

India concerned over violence and instability in Myanmar – Hindustan Times

India expressed concern at the violence and instability in Myanmar on the third anniversary of the 2021 coup by the junta, on February 2. Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that developments in Myanmar have direct implications for the security of the country. Click here to read... [12]

A nonviolent political approach can shorten the State of Emergency period: SG – The Global New Light of Myanmar

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at the SAC meeting 1/2024 at the SAC Chairman’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw on February 1. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that if all issues were solved by political means without terror attacks, the State of Emergency period would not be extended like this. Click here to read... [13]

Nepal

India, Nepal sign MoUs for 3 Projects in education, health, culture sector – Business Standard

India and Nepal on Thursday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for undertaking three High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, one each in education, health and culture sector at an estimated cost of NRs 122.52 million. The Embassy of India here and the Nepal's Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration signed the MoUs for the three projects for undertaking the three HICDPs under the grant assistance of the Government of India, a release from the Embassy here said. Click here to read... [14]

PM calls National Coordination Council meet to proceed with police integration – The Kathmandu Post

Over eight years after the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, the federal government is finally restructuring the police force to create provincial police units. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a meeting of the National Coordination Council on Wednesday to formally decide on integrating around two thirds of the Nepal Police’s strength in provincial police forces. Click here to read... [15]

Pakistan

Cash-strapped Pakistan pledges support to Maldives after India cuts aid – India Today

Cash-strapped Pakistan pledged support to the Maldives for addressing urgent development needs during a phone call between Pakistan's caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Click here to read... [16]

Islamabad asks Kabul to extradite TTP leaders – Dawn

Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its demand for Afghanistan to extradite the leaders of banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a designated terrorist group, while underscoring the need for bringing to justice those responsible for terrorism and maintaining regional security. Click here to read... [17]

Pakistan Polls To Take Place On February 8 Despite Spike In Violence – NDTV World

Pakistan's elections will go ahead as planned, the interior minister said Thursday, after the country's vote body held a meeting with government and intelligence officials to discuss a spike in violence. Polls in Pakistan are often marred by violence, with candidates and rallies targeted by terrorist groups as well as over personal vendettas. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan: 90 killed in militant attacks in January this year – The Print

Pakistan has seen a surge in terror attacks with at least 93 militant attacks taking place in the country in January this year, in which 90 people were killed and 135 injured, as reported by The News International. Click here to read... [19]

Ahead of election, Pakistan seals detailed plan to sell PIA – Business Recorder

Ahead of elections next week, Pakistan’s caretaker administration is making binding plans for a new government to sell loss-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), according to the minister in charge of the process and other officials. Click here to read... [20]

Sri Lanka

Constitutional Council rejects President’s Supreme Court pick – Daily Mirror

The Constitutional Council (CC) has declined to endorse the nomination of Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne as a Supreme Court judge by President Ranil Wickremesinghe triggering him to be on a collision course with the parliamentary body. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force – BBC

Sri Lanka's draconian law to regulate online content has come into force, in a move rights groups say is aimed at stifling freedom of speech. The Online Safety Act gives a government commission broad powers to assess and remove "prohibited" content. Authorities said it would help fight cybercrime, but critics say it suppresses dissent ahead of elections. Social media had a key role in protests during an economic crisis in 2022, which ousted the then president. The act was passed on 24 January by 108-62 votes - sparking protests outside parliament - and came into effect on Thursday after the Speaker endorsed it. Click here to read... [22]