Neighborhood News Digest- 18 March 2024

Afghanistan

Amir Khan Muttaqi invites new Pakistani FM to Kabul-The Khama Press

The Afghan National Television reported that Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban, has invited Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, to Kabul. According to the report, Mr. Muttaqi congratulated Ishaq Dar on his appointment as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister during a telephone conversation. Click here to read... [2]

Swedish Committee halts activities in Afghanistan amid rising pressure-The Khama Press

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan halted its activities in the country on Friday, March 15th, due to heightened pressure from the Taliban and concerns for the security of its staff. The relief organization stated that it has been under pressure from the Taliban following the burning of the Quran in Stockholm. Click here to read... [3]

Acting Hajj Minister Travels to Uzbekistan-Tolo News

Noor Mohammad Saqib the acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, in his visit to Uzbekistan met with the Grand Mufti, government officials, and the staff of the Afghan embassy at Tashkent airport. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

President, PM pay homage to Bangabandhu – The Daily Star

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 104th birth anniversary coinciding with the National Children's Day-2024. Click here to read... [5]

Govt to buy 1,650 tonnes of onions from traders for Bangladesh – The Economic Times

National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), the government's export agency, will buy 1,650 tonnes of onions at ₹29/kg from private traders for exports to Bangladesh, said industry people. Click here to read... [6]

FM: Govt looking into NDI-IRI report observations – Dhaka Tribune

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said the government is examining the observations made in the NDI-IRI report, as well as those made by friendly countries and any other entities. Click here to read... [7]

State Minister: Govt agencies working to bring down commodity prices – Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu on Sunday said that the prices of essential commodities will return to reasonable level as the state agencies are working in this regard. Click here to read... [8]

Bhutan

India to enhance support for Bhutan’s 5-yr plan, economic stimulus programme- Hindustan Times

India will step up support for Bhutan’s 13th five-year plan, including considering a request for an economic stimulus programme, and New Delhi’s development aid will be geared towards creating infrastructure and building connectivity. Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan's journey success due to India's friendship, support: PM Tobgay-Business Standard

Bhutan has come a long way in its journey of balancing economic growth with environment protection and preservation of culture, and this journey has been by-and-large successful, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said on Saturday. During his address at the India Conclave - 2024 in New Delhi, he said the journey has been successful due to the "friendship, goodwill and unconditional support of the government and the people of India". Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

Maldives-India third core group meeting held in Male' – Adhadhu

The third meeting of the diplomatic talks between senior officials of Maldives and India was held on March 17, 2024, in the capital Male'. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medical services to the people of Maldives. Both sides continued their discussions on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the High-Level Core Group in New Delhi on a mutually convenient date. Click here to read... [11]

Ballot boxes for parliamentary election in 3 countries – Sun International

Election Commission Secretary, General Hassan Zakariyya, stated on 16 March 2024, that voters re-registered sufficient for ballot boxes in three foreign countries; which include Trivandrum, India, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The parliamentary elections will be held on April 21, 2024. Click here to read... [12]

Maldives Presient Muizzu says surveillance of his country’s territory should not concern any “external parties” – The Hindu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), launched the MNDF’s Air Corps and introduced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) into the service of the Defence Force, on March 15, 2024. During the launch event, president Muizzu stated that ‘Maldives is an independent and sovereign nation and surveillance of the Maldives' jurisdiction should not concern any external parties.’ President Muizzu further thanked Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his continuous assistance in augmenting the Maldives' military capabilities. He said Erdogan played a "pivotal role" in realising his goal of using drones for the first time to patrol the huge maritime area of the Maldives. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar

Manipur: Fresh influx of Myanmar refugees reported, MHRC visits relief camps - NENOW

A fresh influx of Myanmar refugees was recorded when a team of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) visited and inspected the relief camps in Manipur’s Kangjong district sharing borders with Myanmar on the east. Click here to read... [14]

The Myanmar conflict is a regional problem - The Hindu

Three years ago, on March 9, 2021, army trucks pulled up in front of Mizzima’s headquarters in Yangon, Myanmar. Soldiers proceeded to ransack and loot the office of the independent media group, taking whatever they wanted. This scene was played out across the city, as the junta enforced legislation that outlawed Myanmar’s independent media scene on the heels of the coup in February 2021 to overturn the results of the November 2020 general election. Click here to read... [15]

India calls for return of inclusive federal democracy in Myanmar - The Week

Describing the prevailing situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state as "very delicate", India on Friday called for a return of "inclusive federal democracy" to that country through dialogue and constructive engagement among the key stakeholders. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India wants peace and stability to return to Myanmar. Click here to read... [16]

Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Calls for Security Council Action to Halt Conscription - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations U Kyaw Moe Tun has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take concrete action to stop the forced recruitment of Myanmar youths as junta soldiers under the conscription law. During a UNSC event titled Open Debate Promoting Conflict Prevention – Empowering All Actors Including Women and Youth held on March 13, the ambassador said Myanmar youth are now at extreme risk due to the unlawful military conscription being forced on the people by the illegal junta. Click here to read... [17]

Nepal

Nepal permits digital payments for third country transactions - Kathmandu Post

After India, Nepal’s central bank has opened the digital payment system for third countries, pending the completion of necessary arrangements by Nepal’s commercial banks for its formal enforcement. The policy introduced on Friday, for the first time, will allow foreign citizens in Nepal to pay through a quick response (QR) code for purchases in Nepal. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal names Pokhara tourism capital, to urge China to operate more flights - Indian Express

Signaling that Nepal will seek China’s help in development, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamla Dahal Sunday said he would urge China to treat the Pokhara International Airport as a “grant project” from its side and operate regular commercial flights to and from China. Prime Minister Prachanda made the announcement at Pokhara while declaring it the “tourism capital of Nepal”. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal's debt reaches around Rs 2.4 trillion, with an additional Rs 200 billion accumulated over past eight months – MyRepublica

Nepal's public debt has surged to Rs 2.388 trillion up to Falgun (mid-March) of the current fiscal year 2023/24, according to the data released by the Public Debt Management Office. In the last eight months of the fiscal year, Nepal has accumulated an additional loan of Rs 218.86 billion. By the end of the Nepali month of Falgun of the current fiscal year, the government has repaid Rs 146.64 billion of internal debt and Rs 28.86 billion of external debt. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

IMF assured: No more funds for CPEC- The Express Tribune

Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund that it does not plan to allocate additional budget to settle the Rs493 billion dues of Chinese power plants. The global lender is also questioning the efficacy of the power sector’s anti-theft campaign. Click here to read... [21]

CM Gandapur preps KP law and order restoration plan in face of militant attacks-Dawn

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday said a comprehensive plan had been prepared for the restoration of law and order in the province, highlighting that it was the government’s top priority. Speaking to the media today during his first-ever visit to Dera Ismail Khan after being elected as the chief minister, the PTI leader asserted that the security plan would be implemented soon as it was imperative for the progress of any area. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

Speaker to reveal inside details of Aragalaya on Wednesday – Daily Mirror

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena who is going to face a no confidence motion on Wednesday is to reveal inside details on Aragalaya including how he was pressed by some politicians to take over the presidency in violation of the constitution. Click here to read... [23]

Public trust in parliament and political parties reaches all time low: Survey - Daily Mirror

A recent survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has unearthed that public trust in parliament and political parties has reached an all time low, with parliament showing 22 percent public trust and political parties showing 19 percent trust. Click here to read... [24]

NPP government to include ministers representing North: Anura Kumara – Daily Mirror

A future National People’s Power (NPP) government must include ministers representing the North, NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. Click here to read... [25]