VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 8, 2019

PAKISTAN

India planning 'military action' against Pakistan this month, discloses foreign minister: Dawn
April 8, 2019

In the run-up to India's elections this week, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made a startling revelation on Sunday that Delhi was planning more military action against Pakistan in the third week of April and called on the international community to reprimand India for its irresponsible conduct. The foreign minister, while addressing a press conference in Multan, announced that the government has "reliable intelligence that India is devising a new plan".Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Abdullah Says Fighting Terrorism Needs Collective Efforts: Tolo News
April 8, 2019

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdulla addressed a debate on “Radicalization: Lessons from the Past” on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa in Jordon where he stressed the need for joint efforts of all governments in fighting terrorism and extremism. “We cannot realistically hope to de-radicalize all radicals, but can do a lot more collectively to minimize the chances of their hateful messages resonating with the public,” he said. Abdullah said that supporting terrorism will harm even their supporters. “In order to fight terrorism, extremism and radicalization it is the responsibility of all governments to stop using terrorism as a mean to obtain foreign policy objectives. Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL

Army’s plan for defence university stokes debate over who should pay for it: Kathmandu Post
April 8, 2019

Nepal Army’s long-held plan to establish a defence university has stoked a fresh debate among experts, as they have raised concerns over its modality, logistics, sustainability, financing—and above all, over whether the country really needs it. Though the concept of National Defence University was floated about four years ago, it started to take shape only after the government incorporated it in the policies and programmes for the ongoing fiscal year. Click here to read.... [4]

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh pipeline hits a hurdle: Telegraph
April 8, 2019

The construction of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline (IBFPL) from Numaligarh Refinery Ltd’s marketing terminal in Siliguri to Parbatipur in Bangladesh could be hit because of a technical objection raised by H-Energy Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of real estate firm Hiranandani Group. “The customer — Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) — for which the dedicated pipeline has been proposed is a marketing and distribution company of petroleum products in Bangladesh. Hence, the customer (BPC) will resell the products to its customers,” H-Energy informed the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). “Therefore, the proposed pipeline does not fall within the definition of a dedicated pipeline and the application of a dedicated pipeline under the provisions of PNGRB authorisation regulations cannot be considered,” it contended. Click here to read.... [5]

CHINA

Progress seen after Sino-US negotiations: China Daily
April 8, 2019

China and the United States decided to continue their consultations regarding outstanding issues after they wrapped up their ninth round of high-level trade talks in Washington. Experts and business leaders said China and the US are natural economic partners, and they hoped the two countries can come to a positive resolution. Click here to read.... [6]

Digital trade to drive China’s future growth: People's Daily
April 8, 2019

China's digital trade, which has been driven by the country's technological breakthroughs and the rise of its e-commerce giants, is set to contribute more to the nation's economic growth and foreign trade in the future, industry analysts said. Click here to read.... [7]