Neighborhood News Digest- 29 February 2024

Afghanistan

Muttaqi Hopes for Improved Relations with New Govt in Pakistan-Tolo News

The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a special interview with TOLO news said that he is hopeful that the relations between Kabul and Islamabad will improve with the emergence of a new government in Pakistan. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan May Use Lapiz Lazuli Corridor Through Turkmenistan; Muttaqi- Tolo News

The acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate during on his visit to Turkmenistan, said that Afghanistan can now use the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, which would connect Afghan trade to Europe. Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed a number of trade and diplomatic issues with Turkmenistan officials. The TAPI project, the railway, and other issues were also discussed during the meetings. Click here to read... [3]

Iran to block border with Afghanistan with concrete wall-The Khama Press

The ambassador and special representative of Iran for Afghanistan stated that it is planned for the border blockade of that country with Afghanistan to be in the form of a concrete wall. Click here to read... [4]

World Bank to restart Afghanistan’s CASA-1000 project-The Khama Press

The World Bank has decided to resume the CASA-1000 project in Afghanistan. Concerns have arisen among participating nations like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan about the possibility of losing $1 billion in stranded assets. Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan country strategic plan (2024–2028)-Reliefweb

After several decades of economic growth, the Kingdom of Bhutan graduated from the category of least-developed country in December 2023. However, despite sustained progress towards its Sustainable Development Goal targets for zero hunger, the country faces a triple burden of malnutrition, with micronutrient deficiencies, undernutrition and overnutrition disproportionately affecting poor people. Diets characterized by a dependency on staple and processed foods reflect food preferences and problems with the accessibility and affordability of nutritious food. Although agriculture is a critical contributor to the national economy, engagement in farming is closely correlated with poverty. Click here to read... [6]

Doklam shadow over India-Bhutan relations-The Tribune

TSHERING Topgay was sworn in last month as the Prime Minister of Bhutan, succeeding Lotay Tshering. He had led the People’s Democratic Party to victory in the elections to the national assembly. The Bhutan Tendrel Party, a new entrant led by Pema Chewang, emerged as the main Opposition party. Meanwhile, the United Nations announced that Bhutan was no longer an LDC (least developed country), though economic distress is around the corner, even as India will ‘bridge-finance’ Bhutan’s 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans. Between 2008 and 2013, then PM Jigme Thinley expanded Bhutan’s diplomatic relations by reaching out to several countries, except the P5 nations. Towards the end of his term, Thinley made serious overtures to the Chinese, causing unease in India. Click here to read... [7]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh committed to uphold democratic principles – The Daily Star

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday reaffirmed Bangladesh government's commitment to uphold the democratic principles as he spoke at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Click here to read... [8]

Cabinet expansion on cards – The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is mulling over the expansion of the cabinet with new faces. Multiple sources in the government and the ruling Awami League said the changes may happen by Saturday. Click here to read... [9]

President tells police: Do not harass people on streets– Dhaka Tribune

President Mohammed Shahabuddin said that special care should be taken to ensure that no one is subjected to undue harassment while carrying out routine street checks. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Parliament overrides presidential veto to force polls delay after Ramadan – Atoll Times

The Maldives Parliament on February 28, overrode the presidential veto to force the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held after the holy month of Ramadan. Parliament passed an amendment to the General Elections Act last week to hold the parliamentary elections 10 days after the end of Ramadan. President's Office had confirmed that the president had exercised his constitutional power to reject the bill as he wants to hold the elections on the originally scheduled date of March 17. According to the constitution, the president has the power to veto a bill passed by the parliament. However, the constitution also says that if the same bill is passed with the support of the parliament majority for the second time without any amendments, president must then ratify it. Click here to read... [11]

12 Days for First Indian Army Team to Withdraw; Civilian Replacement Team Arrives in Maldives – The Maldives Journal

The Indian civilian team has arrived in Maldives prior to the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in Addu. The Indian and Maldivian governments have decided that all Indian military personnel will be withdrawn from Maldives before March 10, 2024. The two countries have also agreed to keep Indian civilians in charge of the aircraft operated by the Indian Army in Maldives. There are 88 military personnel manning the three Indian platforms that have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years. Click here to read... [12]

Myanmar

Will Thailand’s aid corridor with war-torn Myanmar make a difference?- rfa

Thailand’s plan to open a humanitarian aid corridor with war-torn Myanmar next month is facing skepticism from experts and aid workers, who say its limited scope and lack of engagement with ethnic minority forces means it is unlikely to have much impact. Click here to read... [13]

Revolutionary Peace and Conservation Effort Unites Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Myanmar-The People’s Network

In Southeast Myanmar, a groundbreaking coalition of indigenous communities and transnational activists is pioneering a novel approach to achieving peace and environmental conservation. This collaborative effort aims to establish the Salween Peace Park, a conservation zone spanning 5,000 square kilometers along the Salween River. This initiative not only seeks to preserve the region's rich natural resources but also to end the longstanding conflict that has ravaged the area for over seventy years. Click here to read... [14]

Myanmar Imposes Martial Law in Shan State's Momeik, Mabein to Bolster Security- The People’s Network

Myanmar's State Administration Council has taken a significant step by imposing martial law in Momeik and Mabein townships within Shan state, aiming to tighten security, enforce the rule of law, and foster peace and stability in the region. This move grants sweeping administrative and judicial powers to the northern command's commander, marking another chapter in Myanmar's prolonged state of emergency that commenced in February 2021. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Nepali Congress to hold discussions with other parties to declare Nepal ‘Hindu state’, says party-OpIndia

The Nepali Congress will hold discussions with other parties and work to declare Nepal a Vedic Sanatan Hindu state, party leader and member of Parliament Shankar Bhandari said. In an interview with ANI, Shankar Bhandari, who has been leading the “Vedic Sanatan Hindu Rastra establishment campaign” within the Nepali Congress, claimed reinstatement of the Hindu state would be a course correction in Nepali politics. Click here to read... [16]

Should Nepal extend its LDC graduation deadline?-The Annapurna Express

At the ongoing 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministe-rial Conference, representatives from the Least Developed Countries(LDC) are demanding an increased role of the global trade body for their smooth and sustainable transition. Since the 12th conference that took place in Geneva in 2022, there has been some notable progress when it comes to addressing the demands of least developed countries. LDC rep-resentatives expect that the current meeting will deliver something more substantial. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal paying 29 percent higher tariff for electricity imports from India than its exports to southern neighbor- My Republica

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) paid as high as Rs 16 per unit to import electricity from India to meet the energy demand in the dry season this year. Currently, the country’s peak domestic demand for energy stands at 1,860 MW. According to the NEA, the electricity production has dropped as low as 1,300 MW, way down from the installed capacity of over 2,800 MW, with the drop in water level in rivers. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

"Can't Pay Attention To A Country Soaked In Red": India On Pakistan At UN-NDTV

Exercising the 'Right of Reply' at the High-Level Segment of the 55th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, First Secretary Anupama Singh said that regarding Pakistan's lengthy mentions of India, it is very regrettable that the Council's forum has once again been abused to propagate flagrantly false accusations about India. Click here to read... [19]

Alvi relents at eleventh hour, calls NA sitting himself- Dawn

An as-yet ‘incomplete’ National Assembly — short of reserved seats claimed by the PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance — will hold its inaugural sitting today (Thurs-day) after President Arif Alvi relented from his earlier stance and assented to a summary seeking the summoning of the maiden sitting of the lower house. Click here to read... [20]

Nawaz wary of challenges facing incoming govt-Dawn

As the PML-N is all set to take the reins of the country, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday forewarned about looming challenges, saying the next two years in power would be quite challenging for the coalition because of economic and political instability. Click here to read... [21]

Sri Lanka

China expresses strong dissatisfaction to SL over bar on research vessels – Daily Mirror

China is reported to have expressed its dissatisfaction to Sri Lanka over the decision to bar Chinese research vessels from carrying out any study in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for one year starting from January 3, 2024. Click here to read... [22]

WNPS vows tough action against Adani wind power project – Daily Mirror

Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) vowed stern legal action against the Adani-sponsored wind power project in Mannar if the proposed environmental concerns on the EIA is not heeded by the Central Environment Authority (CEA), saying over one million birds will be affected annually if the project came into being. Click here to read... [23]