Neighborhood News Digest – 01 June 2023

Afghanistan

How a Covert Relationship With the Taliban Backfired for US Ally Pakistan – Bloomberg

About two weeks after the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, the then head of Pakistan’s spy agency arrived at one of Kabul’s plushest hotels, smiling, sipping tea and appearing at ease with the militants’ return to power. Lieutenant-General Faiz Hameed of Inter-Services Intelligence had reason to believe Pakistan was about to reap the rewards of clandestinely supporting the Taliban in their fight against US-led forces. In return, Pakistan expected the group to help rein in an offshoot at home. Click here to read... [2]

Drug trade in Afghanistan flourishes under Taliban regime: Report – The Print

The drug cartels in Afghanistan are serving the symbiotic relationship with the Taliban by giving farmers the advances to plant the ephedra and opium while the other giving financial assistance to keep the “jihadist proto-state alive,” Khaama Press reported. Drug trafficking in Afghanistan had become one of the important sources of earning money. Click here to read... [3]

Taliban supreme leader, Qatari PM hold talks in Afghanistan – AlJazeera

The Qatari prime minister held talks with the Taliban earlier this month, signalling a new effort by the Taliban to end its international isolation since they took over Afghanistan nearly two years ago. The talks took place on May 12 in the southern city of Kandahar, which included a meeting between the Taliban’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhunzada, and Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. However, no details or official readout from the meeting have been released. Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Journalists protest repeated student attacks - IFJ

Journalists in Bangladesh have held a protest outside the Jashore Press Club following numerous alleged assaults of journalists across several university campuses by Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and activists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the attacks and urges local authorities to conduct immediate and transparent investigations into the incidents. Click here to read... [5]

The U.S. Ups the Ante in Bangladesh - Foreign Policy

The United States doubles down on its values-based foreign policy in Bangladesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a new Parliament building, and Pakistan inches closer to a deal with the International Monetary Fund. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Japan approves billions in loan for economic recovery – Kuensel

To support economic recovery and growth, Bhutan has sought 6,550 million yen (Nu 3.8 billion) loan, which is one of the largest concessional lending from the Government of Japan, for the Economic Recovery and Resilience Enhancement programme. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Finance signed an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan agreement yesterday. Click here to read... [7]

EU looks for a role in connecting North-East with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh – India Narrative

India and the European Union (EU) are holding the Global Gateway Conference in Meghalaya on Thursday. The two-day meet seeks to boost connectivity in India’s North-East region as well as integrate it with neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal for improved trade and economic uplift of the region. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

Satellite Internet in Maldives - Red Skins

Satellite Internet in Maldives has been gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason. The advantages of this technology are numerous, making it a great option for those living in the Maldives. Click here to read... [9]

Maldives elected Co-Chair of Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS - Raajje

Maldives has been elected as Co-Chair of the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This was revealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a publication issued on Tuesday. As such, the Maldives was elected as Co-Chair of the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS alongside New Zealand, during the organizational session of the Preparatory Committee held in New York, U.S. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Special envoy for Myanmar to step down, confirms UN chief spokesman - Frontier Myanmar

The United Nations special envoy for Myanmar will step down in June, a spokesman for the UN chief told AFP on Wednesday, after an 18-month tenure in which she was criticised by the junta and its opponents. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in February 2021, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking clashes with ethnic armed groups and anti-coup fighters. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar dispatch: ‘Our voices are getting killed’ - Jurist.org

Myanmar law students are reporting for JURIST on challenges to the rule of law in their country under the military junta that deposed the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Click here to read... [12]

Chinese Ambassador renews call for cooperation with Myanmar in cracking down on telecoms fraud - Global Times

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai met with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister of Myanmar Soe Htut for the second time in two months on Wednesday to further coordinate their positions on cracking down on telecom fraud, which frequently lures Chinese citizens with promises of highly paid work. Click here to read... [13]

Manipur: Amit Shah visits Moreh on Myanmar border, meets Kuki leaders - First Post

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who flew into Imphal on Monday night, visited the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh in Manipur on Wednesday and met Kuki civil society groups, besides reviewing security measures in place. Also, he visited Kangpokpi district in the afternoon, and met various groups there as well, officials said. Click here to read... [14]

M5.7 earthquake strikes N Myanmar: CENC

A magnitude-5.7 earthquake hit northern Myanmar at a depth of 10 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). There is no immediate report on damage or casualties. Click here to read... [15]

Nepal

Nepal seeks India’s help to save its new airports built by China – Deccan Herald

Nepal is seeking India’s help to ensure the economic viability of its two new international airports built by China. Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a.k.a Prachanda, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a four-day visit. This is his first foreign visit after taking over as the prime minister of Nepal in December 2022. He will have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Click here to read... [16]

Mural in new Parliament with Akhand Bharat overtones upsets Nepal’s politicians – Hindustan Times

Nepal’s political leaders urge Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to seek the removal of the mural during his visit to India. A mural in the new Parliament building that depicts ancient sites such as Lumbini and Kapilvastu has kicked off a storm of protests in Nepal, ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India on Wednesday. Click here to read... [17]

Nepalese PM begins India visit with development needs of Nepal in focus – The Hindu

Nepal and India will sign several agreements during the four-day visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ that began on Wednesday. Speaking at a public reception organised by the Embassy of Nepal, the visiting leader highlighted business ties between the two sides. He said he would engage the leading Indian business houses and hold an official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Click here to read... [18]

Nepal: Opposition protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill; burn PM, President effigy – The Print

The youth union of opposition CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) on Wednesday burnt the effigy of the Nepal President and Prime Minister protesting ratification of the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Members of Youth Federation Nepal burnt the effigy of President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and marched towards the Parliament in the capital Kathmandu. Click here to read... [19]

Nepal wants to attract Indian investments in energy sector, seeks alternative air routes: Foreign Minister Saud – The Hindu

Nepal wants to attract more Indian investments in its energy sector specifically for the development of hydro-power, Nepal's Foreign Minister N.P. Saud said on May 31, underlining that the Himalayan nation wants a power deal with India so that it can export electricity to Bangladesh as well by utilising the Indian grid. Click here to read... [20]

Pakistan

Pakistan intruder shot dead along IB in J&K's Samba – The Hindu

A suspected Pakistani intruder was shot dead by BSF troops along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district in the early hours of June 1, officials said. The incident took place near Mangu Chak border outpost (BoP) in Samba sector around 2:50 a.m., they said. Click here to read... [21]

Pakistan court extends Imran Khan’s bail plea in Al Qadir Trust corruption case for three days – The Telegraph Online

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday extended former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's bail in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case for three days and directed him to approach the relevant accountability court. The order was issued by a division bench headed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. Click here to read... [22]

Pakistan govt sets conditions for negotiations with Imran Khan – The Print

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that the talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan were only possible if the latter “apologise to the nation for the May 9 riots,” Pakistan-based ARY News reported. Speaking to a private news channel, Ishaq Dar said that the talks with Imran will only take place when the PTI chairman “admits to his mistakes and vows not to repeat them.” He stated that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will have to be persuaded for talks with Imran Khan. He said that Nawaz Sharif is of the opinion that talks cannot be held with perpetrators of violence. Click here to read... [23]

Pakistan: Don’t Try Civilians in Military Courts – Human Rights Watch

The Pakistan government should immediately transfer civilians set to be tried in military courts to the civilian justice system, Human Rights Watch said today. Trying civilians before military courts violates Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law to ensure the due process and fair trial rights of criminal suspects. The Pakistan police have handed 33 civilian suspects over to the army for trial in military courts. The suspects are charged with attacking sensitive defense installations, and damaging or stealing important government equipment, computers, and other sources of data collection. The Pakistan Army Act (PAA), 1952, and Official Secrets Act, 1923 allow trying civilians in military courts only in narrowly defined circumstances, including for inciting mutiny, spying, and taking photographs of “prohibited” places. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka

Lanka central bank unexpectedly cuts rates by 250 bps as inflation eases - Business Standard

Sri Lanka's central bank caught markets off-guard by cutting its key rates by 250 basis points on Thursday, as it cited inflation easing faster than expected and the price outlook turning more benign. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) cut its standing deposit facility rate and standing lending facility rate to 13% and 14%, respectively, from 15.5% and 16.5% previously. Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka taps India for its ambitious green energy transition - India Narrative

The Sri Lankan government has announced that it intends to sign an MoU with India to fulfill its goal of generating 70% of its electricity using renewable sources of energy by 2030. This would serve the two-fold purpose of making Sri Lanka self-reliant in generating power as well as help to substantially reduce its carbon emissions by 2050. This declaration comes hot on the heels of The National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board having entered into an agreement to implement a solar power project in two stages. Click here to read... [26]