VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: April 22, 2019

PAKISTAN

PM Imran Khan meets Iranian President Rouhani in Tehran: Dawn
April 22, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the Presidential Palace in Tehran on Monday during a two-day official visit to Iran. During their meeting, Prime Minister Imran and President Rouhani discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and ways to further ties in diverse fields, Radio Pakistan reported. Earlier today, the prime minister arrived at the Presidential Palace where he was received by the Iranian president. The national anthems of both countries were played during the welcoming ceremony, after which Prime Minister Imran inspected a guard of honour. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN,

Abdullah Says 'Mismanagement' Interrupted Doha Meeting: Tolo News
April 22, 2019

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who addressed the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday, said that the Qatar conference was "interrupted" due to mismanagement and with that, an opportunity for talks was lost. The meeting was cancelled over the disagreement of Qatari government with the Afghan delegation’s formation, the Presidential Palace acknowledged in a statement issued late on April 16. In reaction to the cancellation of the Qatar meeting, Taliban in a statement said it was an attempt by the Kabul government to cancel the conference. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Death toll from Sri Lanka attacks rises to 290 and about 500 wounded, police say: CNBC
April 22, 2019

Authorities lifted a curfew in Sri Lanka on Monday, a day after a string of bombings at churches and luxury hotels across the Indian Ocean island killed 290 people and wounded about 500, but there were warnings more attacks were possible. There was still no claim of responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks on two churches and four hotels in and around Colombo, the capital of predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka, and a third church on the South Asian nation’s northeast coast. A government source said President Maithripala Sirisena, who was abroad when the attacks happened, had called a meeting of the National Security Council early on Monday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would attend the meeting, the source said. Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

Dominance or development? What’s at the end of China’s New Silk Road?: South China Morning Post
April 22, 2019

By the entrance of the main office in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is a crimson message from the country’s prime minister, Hun Sen. Written in flowing Khmer and Mandarin is a quote from the China-friendly strongman likening the area to “my own son”. Click here to read... [5]

China to mark 70th navy anniversary with multinational naval events: People's Daily
April 22, 2019

China will host a four-day celebration in the port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, for the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, including a grand naval parade on April 23. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and latest nuclear submarines, destroyers and fighter jets will be among the 32 Chinese vessels and 39 warplanes displayed in the parade, PLA Navy Deputy Commander Qiu Yanpeng told a press conference Saturday. Click here to read... [6]