Articles

Neighbourhood News Digest - 09 June 2025

Afghanistan

Daily Mail: Taliban employs advanced technology to build sophisticated drones-The Khaama Press

The Taliban are using advanced, smuggled technologies to build drones with precision capabilities, including navigation....

June 09, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , US , Maldives , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Uzbekistan , Bhutan , Saudi Arabia , Taliban , India-Bhutan Relations , Drones , Gelephu Mindfulness City , GMC , TNLA , Maldives-Saudi Arabia Relations

Recalibrating U.S. Foreign Policy: President Trump's May 2025 Gulf Visit and Its Strategic Implications

Dr Joseph N. Sanate, Research Associate, VIF Article

President Donald J. Trump's May 2025 visit to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked a pivotal moment in the United States' (U.S.) foreign policy engagement in West Asia (the Middle East).

June 04, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , US , Article , Israel , trade , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Syria , West Asia , Middle East , American Foreign Policy , United States (U.S.) , Donald J. Trump , United Arab Emirates (UAE) , Economy.

Neighbourhood News Digest- 22 May 2025

Afghanistan

Muttaqi Meets with China, Pakistan Foreign Ministers to Boost Cooperation-Tolo News

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate, met with the foreign minister of China Wang Yi, ....

May 22, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , China , Maldives , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Bhutan , Saudi Arabia , National Unity Government , NUG , UNHCR , climate finance , South Asia Labor Mobility Conference , Anti-Tobacco Law , Maldives-EU Relations

West Asia Roundup : April 2025

Abstract

As the Israel-Hamas war of 20 months saw no respite, Saudi Arabia emerged as the major custodian of the Palestine Cause and the Two-State solution. Saudi FM reiterated Kingdom’s rejection of displacement of Palestinians while spe....

May 19, 2025 Saudi Arabia , Egypt , NSA , Gaza , France , West Asia Round Up , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Neighbourhood News Digest - 30 April 2025

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Supreme Council of National Resistance Delegation visits Iran to discuss refugee issues-The Khaama Press

A high-level delegation from Afghanistan’s Supreme Council of National Resistance visited I....

April 30, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , China , Maldives , Iran , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Bhutan , Saudi Arabia , Indus Water Treaty , IMF , Rohingya , Bangladesh-Myanmar , Shan state , Maldives-Malaysia Relations , National Resistance , Japan International Cooperation Agency , JICA , INS Kochi , Lashio

West Asian Leaders and Organisations Condemn Terrorist Attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Adversity often becomes a litmus test for friends. It is also not untrue of diplomacy. For decades, India’s relationship with most West Asian countries has been transactional and only recently due to strategic and increasing importance of India and....

April 29, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Israel , Iran , Saudi Arabia , West Asia , Terror attack , Turkey , Pahalgam

West Asia Review: March 2025

Abstract

2025 began on a note of some optimism that onset of President Trump the second time and his aversion to wars in general, will bring about some relief to Middle East/West Asia and may end the 15 months old Israel-Hamas war which h....

April 22, 2025 Iran , Iraq , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Tunisia , West Asia , West Asia Round Up

Neighborhood News Digest - 15 April 2025

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Reaches Preliminary Agreement to Send Workers to Qatar-Tolo News

Amid growing complaints from daily wage workers about the lack of employment, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has announced tha....

April 15, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , US , Maldives , Iran , Afghanistan , Bhutan , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , IMF , Remittances , Myanmar Junta , Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) , US tariff , Maldives – Türkiye , ASEAN-China Media and Think Tank Forum

Neighborhood News Digest- 12 March 2025

Afghanistan

8 KM of TAPI Pipeline Installed in Afghanistan: Ministry -Tolo News

Homayoon Afghan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, said that the construction of the TAPI project in Afghanistan has progr....

March 12, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , US , TAPI , Maldives , Myanmar , Sri Lanka , Afghanistan , BIMSTEC , Terrorism , Bhutan , Saudi Arabia , Bangladesh , Balochistan , UK , IMF , Oman , ISPR , LDC , Adani Group , Scam Centres , Cultural Industries Office (BCIO) , Justice for Myanmar (JFM).

Neighborhood News Digest- 17 February 2025

Afghanistan

UNSC Grants 23-Day Travel Exemption to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar-Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council sanctions committee has announced a 23-day travel exemption for Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy pri....

February 17, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , China , Maldives , Myanmar , UNSC , Sri Lanka , Afghanistan , BIMSTEC , Bhutan , Saudi Arabia , Bangladesh , USAID , Türkiye , PECA , Indian Ocean Conference , India-Myanmar.