Neighbourhood News Digest - 29 April 2025

Afghanistan

Indian diplomat meets Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Muttaqi-Deccan Herald

Anand Prakash, a joint secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, met the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban Government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who called for strengthened ties and noted that Afghanistan would offer promising investment opportunities for companies based in India. Click here to read… [2]

Plans Underway to Send Afghan Workers Abroad Amid Rising Unemployment-Tolo News

Abdul Mateen Maulawizada, the head of Afghanistan's National Workers' Union, stated that currently, due to the sharp rise in unemployment, about 1.5 million workers in the country are without jobs. In an effort to reduce unemployment, agreements will be made with several countries to send Afghan workers abroad, and measures will be taken to facilitate the issuance of work visas, he said. Click here to read… [3]

Muttaqi Discusses Afghanistan's Future with Qatari Prime Minister-Tolo News

The acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Amir Khan Muttaqi, during his visit to Qatar, met with the country’s prime minister and foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and Qatar’s continued support for the Afghan people. Click here to read… [4]

Afghanistan’s Dried Fruit Prices in India Rise by up to 20%-The Khaama Press

The closure of the Atari-Wagah border has caused a 20% rise in dried fruit prices from Afghanistan in India. Indian media reports indicate that the closure of the “Attari-Wagah” border crossing, due to recent tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, has significantly impacted the dry fruit market in India. Economic Times has reported that India heavily relies on this land route to meet a major portion of its dry fruit and spice needs. Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Bhutan hosts ICC Level 3 coaching for the first time-Kuensel Online

Bhutan is hosting the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Level 3 Coaching Course for the first time in Thimphu. Four master educators from the ICC are facilitating the five-day training that began from April 27. Hosted by the Bhutan Cricket Council Board (BCCB), the training has seen the participation of 21 coaches from 14 Asian countries. Only qualified coaches are selected for this highly competitive opportunity. Click here to read… [6]

Maldives

Maldives Records Over 100,000 Tourist Arrivals in 18 Days-PSM News

More than 100,000 tourists have visited the Maldives in eighteen days, marking a 7.6 percent increase over the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the number of tourists visiting the Maldives continues to rise steadily. Currently, on average, more than 6,000 tourists visit the Maldives daily. Click here to read… [7]

Maldives Opens Over 50 Projects to Foreign Investors-PSM News

The government has opened more than 50 key infrastructure development projects to foreign investors, during the Maldives-Malaysia Business Forum 2025.
The Business Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing official visit to Malaysia which attracted a large number of Malaysian investors and businessmen, offered investment opportunities for 52 projects in the Maldives. Click here to read… [8]

Myanmar

BNP expresses 'grave concern' over Dhaka's agreement to open aid corridor for Myanmar's Rakhine- Deccan Herald

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's BNP has expressed "grave concern" over the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's announcement that Dhaka had agreed in-principle to open a humanitarian corridor for transporting relief supplies to Myanmar's Rakhine state. Click here to read… [9]

As China-brokered deal reshapes control of Lashio, residents are left in limbo-Myanmar Now

In a quiet but significant development, Lashio—northern Shan State’s largest city—was partially handed over to Myanmar’s military junta by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on April 21, under a China-brokered agreement. Click here to read… [10]

Pakistan

Salaried class pays 56% in taxes-The Express Tribune

The struggling salaried class has paid a record Rs391 billion in income tax during nine months of this fiscal year, a highly discriminatory taxation where 10% of the total income tax collected from across Pakistan is now paid by salaried individuals. Compared to Rs10 that the salaried class paid in taxes during July-March period out of every Rs100, the blue-eyed traders contributed merely 60 paisa. Click here to read… [11]

Khawaja Asif clarifies remarks on 'imminent' Pakistan-India conflict-The Express Tribune

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday clarified that his earlier remarks, suggesting an "imminent Indian military incursion" following last week’s deadly attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Kashmir, were misinterpreted. Speaking to Reuters earlier in the day at his office in Islamabad, Asif said: “We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So, in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken.” Click here to read… [12]

China urges Pakistan, India to de-escalate tensions after Pahalgam attack-The Express Tribune

On Monday, China called on both India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" after the two nations reportedly exchanged fire at the Line of Control (LoC) for the fourth consecutive night, following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in the disputed Kashmir region. Click here to read… [13]