Neighborhood News Digest- 20 September 2024

Afghanistan

Russian envoy meets Amir Khan, invites him to Moscow talks-The Khaama Press

Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador in Kabul, met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday, September 18th, that the Russian ambassador invited Amir Khan Muttaqi to participate in the upcoming Moscow Consultative Format meeting on Afghanistan. Click here to read… [2]

Muttaqi: High-Level Delegation Will Attend Moscow Format Consultations-Tolo News

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister, announced on Thursday during a program outlining the ministry's annual achievements that the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan will be held within the next two weeks. Muttaqi said during the program that the Islamic Emirate has been officially invited to the Moscow Format Consultations and that a high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate will participate. Click here to read… [3]

Islamic Emirate's Ambassador to Begin Work in Tashkent Next Week-Tolo News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate to Uzbekistan is set to officially begin his work on Saturday of the upcoming week in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister, said during a program at the Media Center in Kabul that the Islamic Emirate has introduced its diplomats to fourteen countries over the past year. Click here to read… [4]

Afghani Value Rises Three Percent against Dollar in Six Months-Tolo News

The Central Bank of Afghanistan reports that in the first six months of the current solar year, the value of the Afghani has increased by three percent against foreign currencies, especially the dollar. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

BNP forms six panels for reforms - The Daily Star

The BNP has formed six committees to formulate the party's reform proposals in line with its 31-point outline aimed at reforming the constitution and state system and ensuring economic emancipation, said party sources. Click here to read… [6]

Govt to seek extradition of Hasina – The Daily Star

The interim government will seek extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took shelter in India after the fall of the Awami League government through a students-led mass upsurge on August 5, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said today. Click here to read… [7]

SL president on Bangladesh: Stability should be the priority, not Hasina’s fate – Dhaka Tribune

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged Bangladesh to focus on building public confidence, allowing its citizens to decide the nation’s future course. “As far as Sheikh Hasina is concerned, many leaders leave their country and go live abroad; if she is out of the country, let her be out of the country. We all want Bangladesh to focus on normalcy,” Wickremesinghe said when asked to comment on demands to extradite Hasina from India to Bangladesh. Click here to read… [8]

No one has right to take law in his or her hands: Home adviser - Prothom Alo

Home affairs adviser Lt. Gen. (retd) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday emphasized the need to raise public awareness about mob justice, saying citizens have no right to take the law into their own hands. Click here to read… [9]

World Bank pledges support for key reform initiatives - Prothom Alo

World Bank is ready to be part of key economic reforms of the interim government, a visiting top official of the multilateral lender said today. Martin Raiser, vice president of the World Bank’s South Asia region made the comments after meeting chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office in Dhaka. Click here to read… [10]

Bhutan

India permits fresh areca nut imports without MIP condition from Bhutan– The Economic Times

India has permitted import of fresh (green) areca nut without minimum import price condition from Bhutan through land customs stations (LCS) of Hatisar (Odisha) and Darranga (Assam) also, the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification. In September 2022, the government allowed the import of 17,000 tonnes of green areca nut without minimum import price (MIP) condition from Bhutan every year. In 2017, the government-imposed MIP at Rs 251 per kg to safeguard domestic farmers. In 2018, imports of areca nut in any form were allowed if the price was over Rs 251 per kg. Click here to read… [11]

Recreational fishing hooks millions– Kuensel

Bhutan is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for recreational fishing, having generated Nu 3.236 million in fees between 2023 and 2024 from 6,459 anglers, of which 6,363 of them were tourists. High-end recreational fishing was introduced in 2022 through the amendment of Forests and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations 2017. This new tourism offering emerged amid reforms in the tourism sector, allowing anglers to fish in designated Mahseer and trout waters. Recreational fishing, also known as fly-fishing, sport-fishing or game-fishing, is fishing conducted by individuals primarily for sport or leisure. Click here to read… [12]

Maldives

India to rollover USD 50 million as requested by Maldives government– Adhadhu

The Indian government has decided to rollover a USD 50 million Treasury Bill for an additional year upon the request of the Maldives government. According to the Foreign Ministry, the one-year extension was granted to a USD 50 million Treasury Bill which matured on 19 September 2024 through the State Bank of India (SBI). SBI bought the Treasury Bill under an agreement signed by the former government. SBI has bought a total of USD 200 million in Treasury Bills at a cost of USD 50 million for each one. Click here to read… [13]

President Muizzu to attend special debate of the UN Security Council– Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to attend the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and a special debate of the Security Council, the government has announced. President's Office Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed told reporters today that this will be the first time a Maldivian President participates in a debate at the UN Security Council. "He is scheduled to attend a special open debate of the UN Security Council. This is the first time in the history of Maldives that a Maldivian President will participate in a UN Security Council debate," Heena said. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

Ties with Pakistan vital for global stability: Biden-Dawn

US President Joe Biden has emphasised that an enduring partnership between Pakistan and the United States is crucial for global and regional stability. Biden highlighted this key aspect of the bilateral relationship while accepting the letter of credence from Pakistan’s new envoy Rizwan Saeed Sheikh on Wednesday, marking the start of his tenure as the country’s 30th ambassador to the United States. Click here to read… [15]

Ready to discuss India’s concerns on Indus Waters Treaty, says FO-Dawn

Pakistan has expressed willingness to discuss issues concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with India. Weeks after India formally notified Pakistan to amend the bilateral treaty due to “fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances,” the Foreign Office said on Thursday that all discussions could take place within the treaty’s existing framework. Click here to read… [16]

Parliament, SC face-off over reserved seats-The Express Tribune

The ongoing face-off between parliament and Supreme Court has escalated as National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq issued a forceful letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday, urging it to respect parliamentary sovereignty in the allocation of reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan rubbishes claims of naval base deal with China-The Express Tribune

Islamabad on Thursday rubbished claims that it reached a secret understanding with Beijing to allow China to establish a naval base in Gwadar port. "This speculation is completely unfounded and we reject it. There is absolutely no basis for these speculations. Pakistan, as we have said in the past, has no plans to offer bases to a foreign government or military directed against any other country," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Blaoch here at the weekly briefing. Click here to read… [18]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka strikes US $ 14. 2 billion ISB restructuring, paving way out of bankruptcy - Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka overcame yet another major obstacle in its attempt to get out of bankruptcy status with the government reaching agreement in principle with the ad hoc group of bond holders, China Development Bank and the Local Consortium of Sri Lanka (LCSL), an informed source said. Click here to read… [19]

Basil leaves for USA – Daily Mirror

Founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa left for Dubai from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, the airport Duty Manager said. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka’s Presidential vote: Will economic troubles decide outcome? – Indian Express

Two years ago, Sri Lanka faced a severe economic crisis. Millions of people struggled just to get basic items like cooking gas, fuel, and food. Recently, the government announced that it has finished restructuring its debt, which is a big step in stabilizing the economy. Click here to read… [21]