Neighbourhood News Digest - 21 April 2025

Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Deputy PM Visits Kabul to Discuss Security and Trade- Tolo News

A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, arrived in Kabul today (Saturday, April 19). The delegation held separate meetings with the prime minister and the acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, where discussions centered on enhancing security, political, and economic cooperation. Click here to read… [2]

Kabul and Astana Seek to Deepen Railway and Infrastructure Ties-Tolo News

Gaziz Akbasov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador in Kabul, met with Mohammad Isa Thani, the acting minister of public works. During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding economic and trade relations, investment in infrastructure projects, and railway development. Click here to read… [3]

US Plans to Remove Special Envoy Office for Women in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The U.S. plans to remove the Special Envoy for Women in Afghanistan, raising concerns about support for women’s rights. Four U.S. officials have revealed that the Trump administration is planning major changes within the U.S. State Department, as outlined in a draft executive order. These changes could include eliminating the position of Special Envoy for women of Afghanistan, a post created to advocate for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Click here to read… [4]

Russian Spy Chief: West seeking to support Anti-Taliban groups in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

Western intelligence agencies are reportedly supporting anti-Taliban groups in Afghanistan, aiming to maintain instability for their geopolitical interests, says Russian official. Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin has accused Western nations of actively supporting anti-Taliban groups to maintain instability in Afghanistan for geopolitical gains. His remarks were reported by Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency on Saturday, April 19. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan receives high-resolution digital topographic map for strategic developmental projects – Kuensel

Bhutan marked a major milestone in its digital development journey with the official handover of the Digital Topographic Map by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the National Land Commission Secretariat. The new maps, developed using advanced geospatial technologies and satellite imagery, provide highly detailed representations of Bhutan’s terrain. Covering two-thirds of the country’s land area, the maps come in two scales: 1:25,000 covering 17,294 square kilometres of the northern-central region, and 1:5,000 covering 500 square kilometres across nine major urban centres. Click here to read… [6]

How rising global fuel prices will impact Bhutan – Kuensel

A 20 percent surge in global oil prices could drag the country’s economic growth down by as much as 1.4 percent, according to a new simulation by the Ministry of Finance. The ministry’s macroeconomic analysis warns that energy price volatility, driven by geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and global economic shifts, could significantly impact the country’s fuel imports, tax revenue, and overall economic output. The finance ministry conducted a simulation for 2025-2030 to assess the shock of global oil price fluctuations on domestic economic outlook. The study modelled three scenarios: a 10 percent increase in oil prices, a 20 percent increase, and a 10 percent decrease. The ministry projected that higher energy prices will reduce economic activity and production, causing economic growth to fall below baseline projections. A 10 percent increase in global oil prices would cause a more moderate, yet still significant, 0.7 percent decline in economic growth while 20 percent increase could slow down growth by 1.4 percent. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives

MNDF unveils AJBAN 442A armoured vehicles – Adhadhu

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) recently acquired military vehicles manufactured by a defence company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Adhadhu understands that the tankers were imported in early April to be used by the Maldivian military and a video showed the vehicles unloaded at Hulhule' island. It appears that they were first taken to Sri Lanka and shipped to the Maldives by the Maldives State Shipping (MSS) on April 9. The vehicles were taken to the MNDF headquarters in Hulhule' and transported to Male' on Friday. A video shows five tankers crossing the Sinamale' Bridge. The AJBAN 442A armoured vehicles were officially unveiled during the MNDF's 133rd anniversary parade in Male' on April 19, 2025. Click here to read… [8]

Nasheed backs one round preferential voting system – The Edition

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has shown his support behind moving to a one-round presidential election using a preferential voting system. Nasheed expressed his support for a one round voting system in a post on social media platform X. The renewed push for electoral reform comes as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu last week urged MPs to consider amending the Constitution to allow such a change. He made the request during a meeting with members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) at Muliaage. President Muizzu has previously expressed support for electing a president in a single round. Click here to read… [9]

Myanmar

Chinese executive linked to collapsed Bangkok skyscraper arrested – Hindustan Times

Thai authorities said they have arrested a Chinese executive at a company that was building a Bangkok skyscraper which collapsed in a major earthquake, leaving dozens dead. The 30-storey tower was reduced to an immense pile of rubble when a 7.7-magnitude quake struck neighbouring Myanmar last month, killing 47 people at the construction site and leaving another 47 missing. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told a news conference April 19, 2025 that a Thai court had issued arrest warrants for four individuals, including three Thai nationals, at China Railway No.10 for breaching the Foreign Business Act. Click here to read… [10]

ASEAN chair urges Myanmar junta to honour quake truce – Myanmar Now

Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim said Friday he had urged Myanmar’s junta leader to respect a post-earthquake ceasefire in backroom talks in Bangkok. Junta officials have been barred from summits of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over lack of progress on a peace deal since Myanmar’s military snatched power in a 2021 coup and sparked a civil war. But junta chief Min Aung Hlaing travelled to Bangkok on April 17, 2025 to meet Anwar, who holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, on the sidelines of his talks with Thai officials. Myanmar’s military declared a ceasefire until April 22 after last month’s magnitude-7.7 earthquake killed at least 3,700 people. Conflict monitors say fighting has continued, including regular junta airstrikes. Click here to read… [11]

Pakistan

UAE's deputy PM lands in Islamabad for official two-day trip-The Express Tribune

The United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. He was received at the airport by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The visit has been described as “significant” and a reflection of the “deep-rooted and historic ties” between the two countries. Click here to read… [12]

Mohsin Naqvi meets Saudi envoy-Dawn

Interior Mini¬ster Mohsin Naqvi met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malki at the Saudi embassy, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening mutual cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations. They also discussed collaboration in economic, social and security sectors. Click here to read… [13]

CJP-led delegation to visit China, Turkiye soon-Dawn

Chief Jus¬¬tice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi will head a delegation to the 20th Con¬-ference of Chief Jus¬ti¬ces of the Supreme Courts of SCO member states in Hangzhou, China, scheduled to be held from April 22 to 26. CJP Afridi will be acco¬mpanied by Justices Amin¬uddin Khan and Sha¬hid Waheed and two district judges from the re¬¬mote areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Zafar Jan, district and sessions judge, Gwadar, and Nadia Gul Wazir, senior civil judge of Lakki Marwat district. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan to seek economic support, climate financing at World Bank, IMF talks-Dawn

Pakistan is expected to seek financial support for its debt-ridden economy and funds to address climate vulnerability at the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb arrived in Washington on Sunday to attend the talks, which bring together finance ministers and central bank governors from 191 countries to address global challenges such as sovereign debt, climate finance, and reforming the international financial system. Click here to read… [15]