VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 26th November, 2018

PAKISTAN

US seeks Pakistan’s cooperation to combat terrorism: Dawn
November 26, 2018

The United States has said that it will continue to seek Pakistan’s cooperation to combat terrorist threats in the region. In a message on Friday’s terrorist attacks in Orakzai and Karachi that killed over 30 people and injured dozens more, the US State Department also praised the bravery of Pakistan’s first responders. The department’s spokesperson Heather Nauert assured Islamabad that the United States “stands with the Pakistani people in the face of these terrorist acts, and will continue to seek opportunities to cooperate with the Pakistani government to combat these threats in the region”. Click here to read... [2]

FM Qureshi welcomes India's decision to send ministers for Kartarpur ceremony: Dawn
November 26, 2018

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday welcomed India's decision to send two of its ministers to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur border crossing, Radio Pakistan reported. The foreign minister said the Indian response to the peace initiative taken up by Pakistan has been positive. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the groundbreaking of the 4-km-long corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor will provide visa-free access to the Indian Sikh pilgrims to the shrine. Click here to read... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul Hosts 4th Afghanistan-India Security Dialogue: Tolo News
November 25, 2018

The fourth round of Afghanistan and India’s security dialogue, in Kabul on Sunday at the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS), brought together former high-ranking security officials from Afghanistan and India and Indian diplomats. Speakers at the meeting discussed issues around security and the future relationships between Kabul and New Delhi. This comes amid accelerated efforts around the Afghan peace process. The former national security advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta addressed the meeting and said Afghans and Indians will be the main losers of the Afghan peace talks if a peace settlement in the country results in interference in Afghanistan by countries that support insurgency. Spanta said peace efforts should not provide grounds for this to happen. Click here to read... [4]

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka's president says will not reinstate ousted PM: Channel News Asia
November 26, 2018

A political impasse in Sri Lanka could be set to drag on longer after President Maithripala Sirisena said on Sunday he would not reinstate Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister even if he was able to prove his majority in parliament. "I will not appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister in my lifetime. Even if they have a majority, I have told them not to propose him as I won't appoint him as prime minister," Sirisena told foreign media. He said he replaced Wickremesinghe with pro-China former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa because of policy differences and a sharp rise in corruption. Sirisena said he planned to appoint a commission to investigate corruption and malpractice "under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government. Click here to read... [5]

MYANMAR

Protests In Myanmar's Rakhine State Opposing Rohingya Return: NDTV
November 26, 2018

Protesters in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state demonstrated on Sunday against the planned repatriation of Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh, referring to them as "runaway refugees". About 100 people led by Buddhists monks marched through the state capital Sittwe holding red banners and chanting slogans. "All the people of the nation are responsible to protect the security of the country," one monk said, according to a Facebook live streaming of the protest. "There will be no benefits to us or our country if we accept the Bengalis," he added, using a derogatory term for the Rohingya that falsely implies they are newcomers from Bangladesh. Click here to read... [6]

CHINA

China supports necessary reforms of WTO: Ministry of Commerce: People's Daily
November 26, 2018

China supports necessary reforms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the multilateral trading system is severely impacted, the Ministry of Commerce said at a press conference on Nov. 23.The multilateral trading system is now challenged by unilateralism and trade protectionism, said Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce. Click here to read... [7]

Mainland notes Taiwan elections reflect public will: China Daily
November 26, 2018

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Sunday said the mainland will continue to enhance solidarity with Taiwan compatriots and follow a path of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations after the Kuomintang Party won 15 seats out of a total of 22 being contested during local elections in Taiwan over the weekend. Click here to read... [8]