Neighborhood News Digest – 18 October 2023

Afghanistan

Doval meets Central Asian counterparts, pushes for ‘transparent’ connectivity, ‘inclusive’ Afghanistan – The Print

Noting that the situation in Afghanistan remains a cause of concern, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval Tuesday stressed on the need to have formation of a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities. Click here to read… [2]

Delegation Will Travel to Turkey to Address Refugee Issues: Ministry – Tolo News

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations said that in the near future a delegation will travel to Turkey to solve the problems of the migrants. Abdul Rahman Haqqani, in a meeting with Turkey's ambassador to Afghanistan, called on them to provide work for them instead of deporting Afghan refugees, the ministry spokesman said. Meanwhile, a number of Afghan refugees in Turkey said that Turkey, Iran and Pakistan are in a difficult situation. Click here to read… [3]

Herat earthquake directly affects 43,000 people: OCHA – The Khaama Press

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that approximately 43,000 people have been directly affected by recent earthquakes in Herat province. On Monday, Daniel Anders, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in Afghanistan, emphasized during a video conference with reporters that the earthquakes affected individuals already grappling with poverty and hardship. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

PM Hasina to decide on size of election-time govt: Law Minister, Bangladesh - News On Air

Bangladesh Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will determine the size of the election-time government. Addressing media at his office in Dhaka Huq said that she can reduce its size or maintain the current size if deemed necessary. Click here to read… [5]

‘Illegal’ migrant arrested in Pune is a bomb blast case accused in Bangladesh: Pune Police tells court - Indian Express

The Pune city police Tuesday informed a court here that Kamrul Roshan Mandal (28), who is among the alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants recently arrested with Indian ID proofs, was an accused in a bomb blast case at Benapole in Bangladesh. Police said Kamrul has also procured an Indian passport from Pune. Click here to read… [6]

WHO to vote? India caught between Bangladesh & Nepal - Times of India

India’s neighbourhood politics will come into play at the end of the month when 11 member-nation vote to elect the new director of World Health Organisation’s South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), during a closed-door meeting during October 30-November 2. Click here to read… [7]

Bhutan

Water crisis could cause US 58 trillion in economic value, food security and sustainability – Kuensel

Water—the world’s most precious yet undervalued resource—grapples with a mounting global crisis in economic value, food security and sustainability threatening human and planetary health, according to a report, published yesterday by WWF. The report also outlines the degradation of rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers threatening the economic value and role in sustaining human and planetary health. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

President-elect: China’s Belt Road Initiative can play a crucial role in Maldives’ development- Sun Online

President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in an interview to China’s Xinhua news agency, remarked that China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) can play a crucial role in Maldives’ development. He pointed towards the development projects carried out in the Maldives with assistance from China, particularly the China-Maldives friendship bridge, linking Male’, Hulhule’ and Hulhumale’, is the most prominent infrastructural project out of them. Muizzu also stated that; “I think the Maldives needs that kind of assistance and development partnership with China and other countries that will be mutually beneficial to the countries that are involved in it and for the whole region as well as the world.” Click here to read… [9]

Maldives pres calls for intl enquiry into Israel's rights abuses- Atoll Times

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih reflected on the imminent humanitarian crisis that presently afflicts in Gaza following Israeli military aggression against the residents of the Gaza Strip, while addressing to people gathered at the anniversary of the day the Maldives embraced Islam. He called for a comprehensive international enquiry into the human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians. President Solih also emphasised the sacred responsibility of the entire Islamic Ummah to collectively work towards alleviating the suffering of oppressed Muslims globally. Click here to read… [10]

Myanmar

Children in Myanmar: Caught in the Crossfire -Fulcrum

Since the 2021 coup, however, a new trend has emerged, whereby the junta has targeted children from families and communities perceived to be supporting the anti-junta resistance movement. This has precipitated a vicious cycle, where children have decided to join resistance groups and take up arms against the junta. These developments bear further monitoring. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar hands over 2,300 telecom scam suspects to China - ECNS

In an ongoing crackdown on telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar and targeting Chinese citizens, a batch of 2,349 suspects have been transferred from Myanmar to Chinese custody, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Monday. The suspects, including 111 fugitives, were handed over on Oct. 14 in a border law-enforcement collaboration between public security authorities in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, and relevant law-enforcement departments of Myanmar. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar Junta Holds Talks With Political Parties to Open Offices - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC) and 37 political parties that have registered for a proposed general election met in Naypyitaw on Monday to discuss the opening of party offices. Under the junta’s Political Parties Registration Law, parties running in a general election have 180 days to open offices in at least 50 percent of Myanmar’s townships after their registration is approved. Click here to read… [13]

Nepal

Indian Nationals, 18 Nepalese Fly Out of Israel Under 'Operation Ajay' - News18

A special flight carrying Indian nationals and 18 Nepalese citizens wanting to leave Israel amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict left for India on Tuesday as part of ’Operation Ajay’. In a post on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, ”Operation Ajay moves forward. 286 more passengers are coming back to India. Also carrying 18 Nepalese citizens.” The Indian Embassy in Israel said Operation Ajay continues with the fifth flight having taken off from Tel Aviv to Delhi. Click here to read… [14]

Indian national arrested for carrying 3.15 million Nepalese rupees illegally, says police - Indian Express

An Indian national of Chinese origin was arrested on Tuesday by the Nepalese authorities for carrying 3.15 million Nepalese rupees in different foreign currencies without proper documentation, a senior police official said. Thinle Chhoden was arrested from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport where he arrived from China’s Sichuan province and was carrying a total of 16,420 USD, 54,451 Chinese Yuan and 5,000 Indian rupees. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan

Pakistan seeks investment in solar parks to cut energy bill – Dawn

In order to meet energy requirement of the country, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday invited China to invest in solar parks to help reduce Pakistan’s energy import bill and support the country’s fight against climate change. “Investments in solar parks would benefit two-fold. On one hand, they will support Pakistan’s endeavours for climate action and also help reduce energy import bill,” the PM said while addressing 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation conference in China. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan Violates Ceasefire In Jammu, 2 Security Forces Personnel Injured – NDTV

Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire along the Arnia sector of Jammu, in which two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured, the BSF said. Two BSF personnel were injured after Pakistan Rangers "resorted to unprovoked firing" on border guards along the International Border (IB), it said. Click here to read… [17]

‘Grand dialogue’ floated to revive PTI’s fortunes – Dawn

Almost a week after President Arif Alvi urged stakeholders to end bitterness to pave the way for democracy, the PTI on Tuesday proposed a ‘Grand National Reconciliation Dialogue’ among all stakeholders, while its leaders separately called on the president and the caretaker information minister. Click here to read… [18]

Doval Slams Pakistan for Blocking India’s Land Access to Central Asia – The Wire

National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday, October 17, criticised Pakistan for blocking India’s land access to Central Asia and China for setting dubious conditions for connectivity projects, saying that connectivity initiatives should be consultative, transparent and participatory. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

SL President, Pakistani PM discuss strategies for economic recovery- Daily Mirror

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar engaged in bilateral discussions in Beijing, on the sidelines of the 'One Belt - One Road' international conference in China. The meeting took place with a particular focus on strategies for economic recovery. The leaders also deliberated on the critical developments unfolding in the Gaza Strip and issued a common statement reflecting their common stance on the matter. Click here to read… [20]

President Wickremesinghe embarks on observational tour of Huawei Company in China- News lk

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is on an official four-day trip to China, led the delegation to Huawei’s research and development centre in Beijing on 17 October. An agreement is to be signed to provide Huawei’s support for the digitization of Sri Lankan schools. Mr. Simon Ling, Deputy Chairman of Huawei in China, announced his company’s readiness to support an annual study program aimed at nurturing software and hardware engineers in Sri Lanka. President Wickremesinghe emphasized the crucial role of both the Chinese Government and Huawei in supporting Sri Lanka’s digital education system and green energy production. Click here to read… [21]

Indonesia ready to discuss preferential trade deal with Sri Lanka- Colombo Gazette

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held bilateral talks with Sr Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe discussing an increasing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, on the sidelines of the Belt & Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China. President Widodo stated that Indonesia is ready to discuss a preferential trade deal with Sri Lanka. The Indonesian President’s office stated that the trade volume between Indonesia and Sri Lanka fell by 27.5 percent in 2022, so joint efforts are needed to increase the value of trade between the two countries. Click here to read… [22]