Neighborhood News Digest – 28 June 2023

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Account For 80% Of Global Illicit Opium Production In 2022: UN Report – NDTV

Afghanistan continued to account for the "majority (80 per cent) of global illicit opium production in 2022," the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a report, TOLOnews reported on Monday. Whereas, in a separate report, UNODC said that Afghanistan is home to an estimated 3.5 million drug users, which account for nearly 10 per cent of the total population.Click here to read… [2]

Since Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in attacks: UN – The Telegraph Online

The United Nations said Tuesday it has documented a significant level of civilians killed and wounded in attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover — despite a stark reduction in casualties compared to previous years of war and insurgency. According to a new report by the UN mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, since the takeover in mid-August 2021 and until the end of May, there were 3,774 civilian casualties, including 1,095 people killed in violence in the country.Click here to read… [3]

Bangladesh

Amara Raja group firm bags $130 million solar project in Bangladesh – The Hindu

Amara Raja Infra Pvt. Ltd. (ARIPL), an engineering, procurement and construction firm specialising in power and civil projects, in collaboration with solar modules manufacturer Premier Solar Powertech, has secured a solar project valued at $130 million in Bangladesh.Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh Civil Society rejects EU MPs allegations against government: Report – The Print

Bangladesh Civil Society in Europe has dismissed the allegations mentioned in the letter sent by six EU parliamentary members, which stated concerns against the incumbent government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Dhaka Tribune reported. The letter advocated in the favour of BNP and accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of creating a negative image of Bangladesh across the world, Dhaka Tribune reported.Click here to read… [5]

Bhutan

Solution to flash floods: CM instructs to form joint panel with Bhutan – Millennium Post

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given instructions for the formation of a joint committee with Bhutan to monitor floods and flash floods triggered by the spate condition of rivers originating in Bhutan. She has instructed state officials to engage in discussions with Bhutan to find a solution.Click here to read… [6]

Maldives

Tourist arrivals for 2023 surpass 900,000-mark - Raajje

The tourist arrival figure for the ongoing year has surpassed the 900,000-mark. This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest daily statistics, publicized on Monday. Statistics revealed that Maldives has welcomed a total of 904,980 visitors since the new year began.Click here to read… [7]

Myanmar

Arms used for violence in Manipur smuggled via Myanmar, procured by insurgent groups: Intelligence sources – India Today

In a major revelation, sources with Intelligence have claimed that arms which were used to spread unrest in violence were smuggled via Myanmar. According to reports, a significant consignment of weapons was received in Manipur via the Myanmar route, this month. Confidential sources also revealed that a large cache of weapons was procured by active insurgent groups in Manipur in three vehicles.Click here to read… [8]

Myanmar army cuts off aid to cyclone survivors - BBC

Millions who survived one of Myanmar's strongest cyclones are now struggling to rebuild their lives after the government cut off access to affected areas, including for aid groups. The move has "turned an extreme weather event into a man-made catastrophe," Human Rights Watch has said. Cyclone Mocha hit on 14 May, wreaking havoc and killing hundreds.Click here to read… [9]

Nepal

Why India must make Agnipath scheme irresistible to motivate Gorkhas from Nepal to join Indian Army – Firstpost

Had one read a BBC (Nepali) report where Foreign Minister Narayan Prasad Saud said before Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s( Prachanda) visit to India earlier this month that Nepal was not prepared to take up the Agniveer issue with India, there would have been neither anxiety nor speculation over it. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra at his press briefing confirmed saying that as far as he knew, Agniveer did not come up during the discussions but Prachanda did inform a Nepali journalist after his meetings that he had raised the matter informally and would say more on it on returning to Nepal.Click here to read… [10]

Nepal yet to execute BRI projects, says Foreign Minister Saud – The Kathmandu Post

China’s unilateral announcement that the Pokhara International Airport was built under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has finally reached Parliament. Two members of Parliament—Ram Hari Khatiwada of the Nepali Congress and Asim Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party—on Monday asked Foreign Minister NP Saud and Tourism Minister Sudan Kirati whether the Pokhara International Airport is a part of the BRI and whether the government would clarify its position on the issue.Click here to read… [11]

Pakistan

Pakistan protests U.S.-India joint statement on cross-border terrorism – The Hindu

Pakistan has formally lodged a protest with the U.S. over its joint statement with India against the country's involvement in cross-border terrorism. The Foreign Office here said in an overnight statement that the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening and a demarche was issued to him regarding the U.S.-India joint statement of June 22.Click here to read… [12]

Anti-terrorism court extends interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cases related to May 9 – The Print

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday extended interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi till July 7 in three cases related to May 9, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported. The ATC heard Qureshi’s bail plea related to cases lodged against him at Sarwar Road, Gulberg and Race Course police stations. He is accused of involvement in vandalism at Jinnah House and Gulberg Plaza, according to the report.Click here to read… [13]

Pakistan Army deploying new Chinese cannon on LoC, say officials – The Hindu

China has been helping the Pakistan Army build its defence infrastructure, besides providing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, setting up communication towers and laying underground cables along the Line of Control, officials said. This, according to officials, is part of efforts to further shore up China's position as an all-weather friend of Pakistan while ensuring the safety of growing Chinese enclaves in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) set up on the pretext of securing the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) road and hydel projects built in the occupied territory.Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif asks IMF chief for early release of stalled bailout fund – The Telegraph Online

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday during which he expressed hope that the global lender would announce a decision on the release of the bailout fund within a day or two.Click here to read… [15]

Sri Lanka

World Bank Approves $500 Million In Budgetary Support To Sri Lanka – NDTV

Sri Lanka will enter into an agreement with the World Bank for $500 million in budgetary support after the cabinet approved it on Tuesday, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit nation since an International Monetary Fund deal in March. The island nation of 22 million is emerging out of its worst economic crisis in seven decades and its economy is expected to shrink 2% this year before returning to growth next year, following last year's record contraction of 7.8%.Click here to read… [16]

Won't allow Sri Lanka to be used as base for threats to India: Wickremesinghe – India Today

Sri Lanka would not be allowed to be used as a base for any threats against India, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today, asserting that the island nation remains "neutral". In a television interview, the president also denied the presence of the Chinese military in Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe, who was on an official visit to the UK and France, made the comments during an interview with France's state media.Click here to read… [17]

IMF bailout only became possible due to Indian support, says Sri Lankan envoy Moragoda – The Print

Economic aid from India to the tune of $4 billion helped debt-ridden Sri Lanka secure its $2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this year, the country’s high commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda, has said.Click here to read… [18]