VIF Neighbourhood News Digest - 19 Jan 2018

PAKISTAN

Taliban chief sends delegation to Islamabad to explore ways for peace talks: Khaama Press
18 Jan, 2018

The Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hebatullah has reportedly approved the visit of a Taliban delegation to Islamabad for preliminary talks on exploring ways to revive peace talks. Sources privy of the development within the Taliban ranks have told Reuters that supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada had approved Monday’s exploratory meeting in Islamabad on restarting talks to end the war that kills thousands of Afghans each year. It is yet not clear if the talks had any outcome or not but Monday’s visit by Taliban delegation to Islamabad followed an unofficial meeting organized in Turkey. Click here to read... [2]

Pakistan, Iran agree to resume fortnightly train service: Express Tribune
18 Jan, 2018

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to resume a fortnightly train service before Muharram in view of the improving regional security situation. Officials of the two neighbouring countries made the decision at a meeting held on Thursday. Under the proposal, the train’s final destination will be either Mashhad or Qom, Iran. The participants also decided to run 15 regular freight trains between Quetta and Zahedan, with a final schedule to be shared by the Iranian side. The two sides also discussed upgradation of Spezand and Taftan intersection. The meeting was informed that the upgradation of the intersection will be completed in the current year. Click here to read... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan, US Special Forces to Target Insurgents In North: Tolo News
8 Dec, 2017

Pentagon officials said the United States forces in Afghanistan along the Afghan National Army's (ANA) Special Forces are preparing to eliminate Daesh militants in Afghanistan’s north, especially in Faryab province. According to Pentagon, the US forces in coordination with the Afghan Special Forces have photographed and surveyed the Daesh militants’ strongholds in Faryab and Jawzjan provinces from air and these hideouts will soon be targeted from air and ground. Afghan Interior Ministry meanwhile said in these operations, the Afghan and US soldiers will eliminate Deash operatives in the two provinces. Click here to read... [4]

Jamiat-ARG Agree on Some Key Issues As Talks Progress: Tolo News
18 Jan, 2018

Jamiat-e-Islami party of Afghanistan and the presidential palace (ARG) have reached an agreement on at least seven demands out of twelve tabled to government by the party in their bid to break the ongoing stalemate, according to information obtained by TOLOnews. Click here to read... [5]

NEPAL

Protests over provincial capitals widen, turn violent: My Republica
19 Jan, 2018

Massive protests erupted across the country on Thursday, a day after the government announced temporary provincial capitals. Angrered by the government's decision, agitating residents in various districts have intensified their protests Thursday demanding to locate of the provincial capitals in their areas. Dhankuta, Dharan, Doti, Banke, Parsa and Dang districts were among the most affected by the protests on Thursday. Local Administration Office, Dhankuta clamped a curfew for an unlimited period from Thursday after protests went out of control after the government named Biratnagar as the capital of Province 1. District residents vandalized and set fire to government offices, vehicles and marketplaces, leading to clashes with security personnel, informed Dhankuta's Chief District Officer Prem Prakash Upreti. Click here to read... [6]

President administering oath to provincial governors today: My Republica
19 Jan, 2018

Office of the President has made preparations to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-appointed provincial governors on Friday. Sources at the Office of the President said President Bidya Devi Bhandari is set to administer the oath of office and secrecy to seven provincial governors as per the recommendations made by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. This will pave the way for the formation of provincial assemblies as the Election Commission (EC) will have to first submit the results of the provincial assembly polls to the provincial governors. The government will then administer the oath of office and secrecy to the senior-most member of each provincial assembly, who will later administer the oath of office and secrecy to other members of the provincial assemblies concerned. Click here to read... [7]

BANGLADESH

China, Bangladesh road project hits bribe bump; may slow down Beijing's connectivity plans: Economic Times
18 Jan, 2018

A China-funded road initiative in Bangladesh has suffered a setback after authorities blacklisted the project executing company for attempting to bribe a senior bureaucrat earlier, according to officials.

The development could slow down Beijing's connectivity plans in the region. Senior Bangladeshi officials told ET that China Harbour Engineering Company, which was awarded the contract to widen the 226-km-long Dhaka-Sylhet highway into four lanes with Chinese funds, had offered five million takas to Bangladesh road transport and highways division secretary Nazrul Islam in October last year as bribe to get the contract. The money was offered in foreign currency, the officials said. However, according to the officials, Islam informed road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader about it. The minister then discussed the matter with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ministry handed over the money to the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, the officials said Click here to read... [8]

MALDIVES

Maldives dismisses deputy home minister: Haveeru
18 Jan, 2018

The home ministry’s deputy minister Ahmed “Maaz” Saleem was dismissed from his post on Wednesday. Saleem was first appointed to a political post when President Abdulla Yameen came into power. The reason for his dismissal is not yet known. So far, there has not been any official statement from either the government or Saleem. Saleem was known as an active participant in Yameen’s presidential campaign to get re-elected, beside First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim for the past two months. He had also joined the first lady on the campaign trip to the islands of Alif Alif atoll last week. Click here to read... [9]

MYANMAR

Myanmar arrests MP after Rakhine riot: Straits Times
18 Jan, 2018

Myanmar police on Thursday (Jan 18) arrested a prominent Rakhine Buddhist MP for allegedly provoking ethnic violence, state media and his party said, after a deadly riot highlighted simmering tensions in the troubled state. The arrest came after seven people were killed and a dozen injured when police opened fire on a crowd of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists trying to seize a government office late Tuesday. The violence erupted as anger boiled over after the cancellation of a local ceremony in Mrauk U, a town just a few dozen kilometres from the epicentre of a military crackdown against the country's Rohingya Muslim community. Click here to read... [10]