Neighborhood News Digest- 26 February 2024

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Political, Economic Delegation Travels to Turkmenistan-Tolo News

The acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has led a delegation to Turkmenistan following an official invitation of the foreign minister of that country. The acting minister of mines and petroleum and officials from Afghanistan Railway Authority and De Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) are also included in the delegation. Click here to read… [2]

MoE: 700 'Ghost Schools' Identified Across Country- Tolo News

The Ministry of Education said that they have culled up to 700 ghost schools from official lists since the Islamic Emirate came to power. School teachers said they appreciated the removal of ghost schools from official lists in the country and insisted that this should be prevented. Click here to read… [3]

First Commercial Goods Plane Lands in Mazar-e-Sharif Airport-Tolo News

For the first time since the Islamic Emirate came to power, a plane carrying commercial goods from the United Arab Emirates landed at Mazar-e-Sharif International Airport. Click here to read… [4]

China regrets the UN Doha meeting’s failure to engage in dialogue with Taliban-The Khama Press

China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, expressed regret on Saturday that the United Nations’ meeting in Doha earlier this week failed to facilitate dialogue with the de facto administration. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s balancing act - Financial Express

“Bhutan needs to start from scratch.” In a meeting with Bhutan’s former prime minister Lotay Tshering in August last year, as his country sat on an inflection point post-pandemic, he shared that the country was shaking up its systems —from tourism to banking, corporate to judiciary. With the monarchy calling the shots in the Himalayan nation, a new government in power under Tshering Tobgay as PM is likely to follow the same diktat. In fact, soon after winning the general elections in January this year, Tobgay posted on X: “Bhutan is open for business!”. Click here to read… [6]

‘Bhutan Must Release Its Political Prisoners’: SAHR - Voice

On the occasion of the 16th World Social Forum (WSF) held in Nepal, the South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), the regional network of human rights defenders, has urged the Government of Bhutan to release its political prisoners who have been languishing for decades in the country’s prisons. Click here to read… [7]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh wants to become Asean sectoral dialogue partner by next summit in October- Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said Bangladesh’s becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will benefit both sides through extended trade and investment engagements, enhanced people-to-people contact, and the exchange of best practices. Click here to read… [8]

Bangladesh’s growth story an inspiration to many countries – The Daily Star

World Bank Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde today reiterated the World Bank's strong support to help Bangladesh achieve its vision of upper-middle income status by 2031. Click here to read… [9]

US supports a prosperous, democratic Bangladesh – The Daily Star

The US supports a prosperous, secure, and democratic Bangladesh -- a message that the visiting US delegation communicated to Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

India, Maldives & Sri Lanka’s ‘Dosti-16’ kicks off in Maldives – The Hindu

Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon was speaking at an event to formally inaugurate the 16th iteration of ‘Dosti,” the biennial exercise form February 22 to February 25. Highlighting the importance of ‘collaboration and interoperability’ among the coast guards personnel of the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka, Mr. Maumoon stated that the ‘trilateral exercise Dosti will unite the troika to address ‘shared maritime security concerns through collaboration.’ Click here to read… [11]

Maldives Economic Gateway Project will be the most significant economic project to date: Pres. – Raajje

The Maldives Economic Gateway Integrated Project revolves around maritime services, economic security, real estate and tourism. Highlighting that the project would allow the initiation of the maximum number of projects within the year, he said that the hospital project, resolving the issues of land erosion, waste management and land reclamation projects are of high value for the island community. Muizzu designated Maldives Industrial Development Free Zone Public Limited as the master developer for the Project in Ihavandhipolhu and they were awarded the development rights for the project area. Click here to read… [12]

‘Just another in a string of lies’: Ex-Maldivian minister on Mohamed Muizzu’s claims about ‘thousands of Indian military personnel’- Business Today

Abdulla Shahid, the newly elected president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives, on Sunday said that Prime Minister Mohamed Muizzu’s claims about “thousands of Indian military personnel’ were merely another in a series of lies. Shahid added that there are no armed foreign soldiers stationed in the island nation. He also sought transparency from the Muizzu government, while adding “the truth must prevail.” Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar

President highlights plans to link Hambantota to Myanmar port - Adaderana

In a recent discussion convened at the Presidential Secretariat, President Ranil Wickremesinghe articulated his vision for economic development and infrastructure investment, particularly focusing on the master plans for strategic tourism zones in the Eastern Province, the Colombo City & the Western Region and Greater Hambantota. Click here to read… [14]

Rise in immigrant influx, narco smuggling post Myanmar coup - Hans India

Of India’s 1,643 km unfenced porous borders with Myanmar, the frontiers with Mizoram (510 km) and Manipur (398 km) are most worrying as illegal influx of Myanmarese, drug peddling and cross-border movement of inimical elements including militants is on the rise. The complex and the rising danger of drug trades and cross-border movement of inimical elements as well as violence-hit civilians have become more challenging for the Indian authorities especially after the 2021 February coup by the Myanmar military. Click here to read… [15]

Myanmar trying to engage in a war with Bangladesh: RAB DG - New Age BD

Rapid Action Battalion director general M Khurshid Hossain has said that the Myanmar junta has long been intending to engage in a war with Bangladesh by employing various tactics. ‘Myanmar is always instigating Bangladesh, starting with the intrusion of Rohingyas. The situation has, however, been handled due to the strong attitude of prime minister Sheikh Hasina,’ he said. Click here to read… [16]

Nepal

Nepal mandates electronic chips for Mount Everest climbers starting this spring season - WION News

Nepal will soon make it mandatory for all climbers to get an electronic chip before embarking on the tedious expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. The chip, costing between $10 and $15, will help rescue agencies locate the climbers in an emergency situation. Kathmandu is expected to formulate a law before this spring season when the climbing season starts. Click here to read… [17]

Nepal’s external affairs minister visits Ram temple in Ayodhya - Indian Express

Nepalese External Affairs Minister Narayan Prasad Saud visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Sunday. Saud landed at the airport in Ayodhya by a chartered flight from Delhi on Saturday and visited the Hanumangarhi shrine and also took part in Saryu Aarti in the evening. He visited the temple to have a ‘darshan’ on Sunday morning. Click here to read… [18]

Bangladesh bargains for cheaper power from Nepal - TBS News

The power sale agreement between Nepal and Bangladesh has taken a hit as the latter sought to negotiate the prices quoted by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Therefore, the inaugural power trade between the two neighbouring countries is currently on a halt until the tariff agreement on pricing is reached. Click here to read… [19]

Pakistan

High stakes as Punjab readies for CM vote- The Express Tribune

The Punjab Assembly prepares for a showdown today between the PML-N candidate for the provincial chief minister's position, Maryam Nawaz, and Rana Aftab, whom the PTI selected for the coveted role after its initial nominee, Mian Aslam, faced threats of arrest. Click here to read… [20]

PPP's Syed Owais Shah elected Sindh Assembly speaker-The Express Tribune

PPP nominee Syed Owais Shah was elected on Sunday as the 18th speaker of the Sindh Assembly after bagging 111 votes in favour. The election of the speaker and deputy speaker was held through a secret ballot under the now-former speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. Click here to read… [21]

Saad Rafique calls for ‘audit’ of 2018 polls- Dawn

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has asked those seeking audit of the Feb 8 elections results to first apply this rule on the 2018 polls, and announced initiating a grand dialogue with all parties. Click here to read… [22]

Imran taps Gohar again as nominee for PTI chief-Dawn

With its founder Imran Khan in prison, the leadership role has become a conundrum for PTI, as it has taken a U-turn and once again nominated Barrister Gohar Ali Khan for the party’s top post. Click here to read… [23]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to end visa extensions granted to war-hit Russian and Ukrainian tourists – The Hindu

Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians staying in Sri Lanka on extended visas due to the war have been asked to leave the island nation within two weeks, officials said. Click here to read… [24]

India, Maldives, Sri Lanka Hold 'Dosti' Exercises In Indian Ocean - NDTV

Seeking to enhance maritime security and interoperability, coast guard personnel from India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka have embarked on a four-day trilateral exercise to identify emerging maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. Click here to read… [25]

Civilians allowed to visit seven Hindu temples in Jaffna High Security Zone – Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Army has announced the granting of permission for the public to visit seven Hindu temples (Kovils) situated within the high-security zone under the jurisdiction of the Security Forces Headquarters in Jaffna. Click here to read… [26]