VIF Neighbiurhood News Digest: 8th October, 2018

PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s ability to withstand external shocks diminishes: Dawn

October 8, 2018

The World Bank has said that Pakistan’s ability to withstand external shocks has diminished and risks will remain predominantly on the downside with declining reserves and elevated debt ratios. In its South Asia Economic Focus titled ‘Budget Crunch’ released on Sunday, the World Bank says appropriate policy responses to correct these imbalances and increased buffers to absorb future shocks will reduce these risks and support a positive growth outlook. Such responses would entail increased flexibility of the exchange rate, strengthening the fiscal position through renewed efforts to improve revenue collection and better coordination between federal and provincial governments to reduce public spending, the report says. Click here to read.... [2]

Centre, KP and GB govts told to submit response to define boundaries of Diamer-Bhasha dam: Dawn

October 8, 2018

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday mulled how to determine the boundaries of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) as the latter — while being a vital part of the project — does not legally constitute a part of Pakistan. The chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) issued notices to all parties of the case, including the governments of GB, KP and the Centre, ordering them to submit a response on the matter within 15 days. Total land required for the project is 37,419 acres which included 19,062 acres of state and 18,357 acres of private land under cultivation, barren and other uses. About 14,325 acres of the total 18,357 acres of private land has already been transferred to the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

Khalilzad Arrives In Kabul to ‘Break War Stalemate’

October 7, 2018

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Sunday as part of a 10-day journey to Kabul, Islamabad, Doha, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh. Khalilzad told TOLOnews after arriving in Kabul that he has come to Afghanistan to break the stalemate regarding the war and to bring peace to the war-torn country. He did not give details about his plans but he has solid knowledge and understanding of the situation in the country and in the challenges facing the peace process. Pakistan media reported last week that Khalilzad was expected in Islamabad on Saturday but instead headed for Kabul. Click here to read.... [4]

NEPAL

Parties fail to represent 33 percent women: Kathmandu Post

October 8, 2018

None of the national political parties has complied with the Election Commission directive to ensure 33 percent representation of women in the central committee. The order, in line with the constitution and the Political Party Registration Act, has been flouted, with the parties saying they will be able to comply with the legal provision only after a general convention. The issue of women’s representation in the central committee came to the fore after the recently unified Nepal Communist Party (NCP) failed to assign roles to women in line with the legal requirement. After initial reservations, the constitutional body finally recognised the NCP in the first week of June. Click here to read.... [5]

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh president gives assent to digital law seen curbing free speech: Channel News Asia

October 8, 2018

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Monday (Oct 8) gave his assent to a controversial new law that local media organisations fear could cripple press freedom and curb free speech in the country. "The President has given his assent to the Digital Security Act today making it law," said Joynal Abedin, press secretary to the president. The South Asian nation's parliament passed the Digital Security Act on Sep 19, combining the colonial-era Official Secrets Act with tough new provisions such as allowing police to arrest individuals without a warrant. Click here to read.... [6]

MALDIVES

Yameen out, China woos Maldives president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih: Livemint

October 8, 2018

China is making determined efforts to woo the Maldives’ president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a bid to ensure the strategic gains it has made in the Indian Ocean atoll nation in recent years do not get diluted by the exit of Abdulla Yameen, the former president who was considered pro-China. Over the weekend, China’s ambassador to Maldives, Zhang Lizhong, paid a courtesy call on Solih armed with an invite for the Maldivian leader to visit Beijing. He was the second foreign envoy to meet Solih since his victory in the 2018 presidential election on 23 September, the Indian high commissioner to the Maldives Akhilesh Mishra being the first to call on Solih last week. Click here to read.... [7]