VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 16th July, 2018

PAKISTAN
Manipulation as clear as day, says Farhatullah Babar: Dawn
July 16, 2018

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) says results of the general election have already been made controversial, thanks to gerrymandering, leaving the July 25 polls just a search for a “Sanjrani” prime minister in a fragmented parliament. “Polling is 10 days away but elections have almost already been rigged. Mandate of the people has been stolen and the seeds of controversial and manipulated power transfer sown already. Ground reality permits no other judgment,” says party secretary-general Farhatullah Babar. In reply to a question by Dawn, he says the July 25 exercise at best is a search for a “Sanjrani prime minister” in a fragmented parliament so that “de facto, and not de jure state continues to be in the driving seat.” Political parties have publicly named names of the de facto state engaged in rigging, something never done before, he says, making it clear that “we will neither boycott elections nor allow these to be postponed under any pretext”. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN
Questions Raised Over Ghani’s Failure To Meet Key Leaders: Tolo News
July 15, 2018

Questions have been raised in Afghanistan over why President Ashraf Ghani did not meet with either NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg or with US President Donald Trump during last week’s NATO Heads of State and Government summit in Brussels. Ghani was expected to hold talks with both Trump and Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the summit – but neither meetings transpired. This came despite Trump having said during his speech in Brussels that he would like to meet with Ghani. Ghani meanwhile said after the summit that the international community has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghanistan. Over the past two decades, Afghanistan has been a focal point of politics in Washington and high level officials from Afghanistan and the United States have continuously discussed the need to jointly fight terrorism. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL
Inland waterway first on Koshi, Narayani rivers: Kathmandu Post
July 16, 2018

Officials from Nepal and India have started talks on launching inland water navigation in Koshi and Narayani rivers from India’s Ganga, a dream project of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

During the visit of Prime Minister Oli to India in April, both the sides had agreed to develop inland water navigation from Indian rivers to Nepal’s border in order to ease cargo and passengers movement and decided to conduct a feasibility study soon. As per the understanding, the first consultative meeting on developing Inland Waterways Connectivity between India and Nepal began in Kathmandu on Sunday where the focus of discussions has been on techno-economic feasibility of various routes and modalities. Click here to read... [3]

MALDIVES
Government again calls for all-party talks: Haveeru
July 15, 2018

The Maldives government has once more invited the opposition to come forward to initiate all-party talks. In a statement released by the President’s Office, the government congratulated Kashidhoo MP Faisal Naseem, on his nomination as Jumhooree Party (JP)’s running mate to contest alongside Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Ibu’ Solih in the upcoming presidential elections slated for September. The government noted that campaign activities are underway peacefully and urged all parties to conduct themselves in a manner which will allow for an independent, free, fair and transparent election this year. The statement urged all international bodies to provide support and assistance in the process of elections and to refrain from any actions which may negatively impact presidential elections 2018 in the Maldives. Click here to read... [4]