Afghanistan
Pakistani Special Envoy Visiting Kabul to Attend JCC Meeting-Tolo News
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate stated that Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan, has arrived in Kabul to participate in the 7th Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting. According to Zabihullah Mujahid, the meeting is led by Mohammad Sadiq on behalf of Pakistan and by Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir, deputy minister of defense, on behalf of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read...
Release of Salma Dam Water: A Revival for Herat’s Agriculture-Tolo News
At the peak of heat and critical water demand, the water from the Salma Dam has entered the Harirod River and reached the districts surrounding Herat city. According to Herat local officials, the Salma Dam water has been released for forty days, irrigating thousands of hectares of agricultural land and fruit orchards in eight districts along the Harirod River. Click here to read...
Khalilzad: Pakistan Might Send ISIS to Afghanistan via Refugees-Tolo News
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan peace, has warned that Pakistan might use the refugee deportation process as a cover to send ISIS fighters into Afghanistan. Khalilzad wrote on X: “Knowledgeable people tell me that they are concerned that the Pakistan establishment might well be using the expulsion of Afghan refugees as a cover to send ISIS terrorist to Afghanistan. I share this concern.” Click here to read...
Bhutan
Bhutan turns to 'green' cryptocurrency to fuel economy – Hindustan Times
The Himalayan nation of Bhutan is exploring ways to mine and leverage green cryptocurrencies using hydropower to boost its economy and create jobs to reduce brain drain, the chief executive of its sovereign wealth fund said. Green cryptocurrencies are digital currencies mined using clean energy resources such as wind, hydro or solar power instead of fossil fuel. Sandwiched between Asian giants India and China, Bhutan has earned millions of dollars in recent years by investing in some of the world's most popular cryptocurrencies and used some of its profit to pay government salaries for two years, two senior officials in Thimphu, the capital said. Click here to read...
ADB projects inflation to moderate at 4.2 percent in 2025 – Kuensel
The cost of goods and services in the country is projected to ease to 4.2 percent this year, according to the latest forecast from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). While headline inflation is expected to see a slight uptick to 4.5 percent in 2024, this increase is anticipated to be temporary with moderating at 4.2 percent in 2025. Economics Officer at the ADB’s Bhutan Resident Mission, Sonam Lhendup, said that inflation in Bhutan will largely mirror global price trends for essential commodities like petroleum and food, which heavily feature in the nation’s import basket. The projected rise in inflation for 2024, up from 4.2 percent in 2023, he said is partly attributed to increased spending power following the civil servants’ salary hike in mid-2023. However, as Indian imports constitute about half of Bhutan’s consumer price index, continuing moderation of inflation in India will help contain inflation in Bhutan. Click here to read...
Maldives
Maldives Hails ‘Exciting Opportunities’ Ahead in Trade with Türkiye – PSM News
Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed has said the meeting with Turkish business leaders in Istanbul yielded tangible results for investment and trade, creating ‘exciting opportunities’. During his official visit to Turkey, Minister Saeed alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel met with the Turkish business community in Istanbul on April 14, 2025. The meeting was organised by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK) and joined by more than 15 key Turkish businesses, led by the Chairperson of the Türkiye-Asia Pacific Business Council, Nail Olpak who is also a Member of the Board of DEIK and İçtaş İnşaat A.Ş. Click here to read...
Expenditure reduction leads to MVR 3.4 billion surplus from annual budget – The Edition
Reduction in government expenditure has led to a State budget surplus of MVR 3.4 billion. Weekly financial statistics shared by the Ministry of Finance indicate that as of April 10, MVR 11.2 billion was received as State revenue. This is approximately MVR 500 million more than the same period last year. As of now, MVR 8.7 billion has been received this year in taxes, with MVR 2.5 billion received as other revenue. With the economic reform actions being taken by the government, expenditure has also seen a significant decrease. Click here to read...
Myanmar
Myanmar frees around 4,900 prisoners to mark traditional New Year – The Times of India
The head of Myanmar's military government granted amnesty to around 4,900 prisoners to mark the country's traditional new year, state-run media reported Thursday, but it wasn't immediately clear how many were political detainees locked up for opposing army rule. Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, pardoned 4,893 prisoners, MRTV reported. Thirteen foreigners will also be released and deported from Myanmar, it said in a separate statement. Other prisoners received reduced sentences, except for those convicted of serious charges such as murder and rape, or those jailed on charges under various other security acts. Click here to read...
India dispatches 50 tonnes of pre-fabricated offices to Myanmar under Operation Brahma – The Tribune
India continues its humanitarian outreach to Myanmar under Operation Brahma after last month's quake, dispatching 20 pre-fabricated office structures weighing around 50 tonnes to Naypyidaw via Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on April 14. As the first responder to the devastating quake on March 28, India has provided over 750 MT of relief material, including medical aid, food, shelters, and essential supplies. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release on Wednesday said, "As part of the ongoing supply of relief material and humanitarian aid to Myanmar under 'Op. Brahma,' components of 20 pre-fabricated offices, weighing approx 50 tonnes, were dispatched by IAF C-17 on 15 April 2025 to Myanmar. The structures will be used as temporary offices for various Ministries in Naypyidaw. Two IAF C-17 were deployed to bring back doctors and personnel of 60-para field hospital post de-induction. The 200-bedded field hospital has successfully provided treatment of 2519 patients over the past two weeks." Click here to read...
Pakistan
China's support was crucial in securing IMF deal, says PM Shehbaz-The Express Tribune
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not have been possible without the financial and diplomatic support extended by China. Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad for agriculture graduates selected for training in China, PM Shehbaz Sharif described Beijing as Pakistan’s “most sincere friend” and credited the country with playing a decisive role in stabilising Pakistan’s struggling economy. Click here to read...
Kulbhushan Jadhav got consular access after court martial, not appeal, Constitutional Bench told-Dawn
Defence Min¬istry lawyer Khawaja Haris Ahmed on Wedn¬esday informed the Sup¬reme Court that Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was not allowed the right to appeal in light of a 2019 International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict, as the international court had only addressed the issue of consular access in that case. Click here to read...
Pakistan urges overhaul of UN peace missions-Dawn
Pakistan on Wednesday proposed a comprehensive reform of United Nations peacekeeping operations, urging the international community to adapt peacekeeping structures and strategies to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global security landscape. The proposals were presented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the third United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Meeting, which Pakistan co-hosted with South Korea in Islamabad. Click here to read...
