Neighborhood News Digest- 21 March 2024

Afghanistan

Fighting With Pakistan Displaces Hundreds in Dand-e-Patan, Paktia- Tolo News

After Pakistan's air strikes in Khost and Paktika and clashes between the forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan’s border guards in the Dand-e-Patan district of Paktia, nearly 500 families in Dand-e-Patan have now been forced to leave their homes. Click here to read… [2]

Afghanistan; The Focus of Discussions in Global Meetings in 1402-Tolo News

More than twenty global meetings were held in 1402 Solar year regarding Afghanistan, many of them not attended by any representative of the Islamic Emirate. Click here to read… [3]

EU provides €5 million aid to Afghanistan-The Khama Press

The European Union has recently announced a contribution of 5 million euros to enhance food security and other sectors in Afghanistan. The European Union, on Tuesday, March 19th, stated that this amount of money is allocated to strengthen food security and livelihoods in the provinces of Badakhshan, Daikundi, and Ghor. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi banks’ profitability lowest in South Asia-The Daily Star

The profitability of the banking sector in Bangladesh is the lowest in South Asia due to the prevalence of higher non-performing loans, lower efficiency, and an elevated level of costs of funds. Click here to read… [5]

Boycott Indian products: Rizvi-The Daily Star

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday expressed solidarity with the movement for boycotting Indian products. Throwing away his Indian shawl in front of BNP's Nayapaltan headquarters, Rizvi said boycotting Indian products means boycotting the Awami League government as the party is an "Indian product". Click here to read… [6]

Bhutan

PM Modi cancels visit to Bhutan due to inclement weather-The Hindu

A day ahead of his planned departure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put off his visit to Bhutan due to “inclement weather”, an announcement made simultaneously by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Bhutanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday evening. The visit is being rescheduled, although no dates were given. Click here to read… [7]

Guests from Tawang at Gomphu Kora Tshechu continue to decline-Kuensel

Keeping with the age-old practise, more than 800 visitors from Tawang, popularly known as dhaps, thronged the Gomphu Kora tshechu in Trashiyangtse, that ended yesterday. However, the tradition noted a brief interruption during the movement restrictions as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, where the visitors could not attend the popular Gomphu Kora tshechu and Chenga Kora that dated back to the 8th century. Click here to read… [8]

Maldives

Maldives' elections ballot boxes to be stored in India, island nation's EC says amid diplomatic row - Live Mint

Maldives’ election commission announced on Sunday, March 17, that the ballot boxes for the upcoming parliamentary elections will be placed in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. This development came after over 150 people re-registered to vote in each of the three countries. Click here to read… [9]

Hyper-nationalism hurting India–Maldives relations - East Asia Forum

A diplomatic rift between India and the Maldives expanded after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Lakshadweep islands caused his supporters to compare it to the Maldives as a potential tourist destination. This angered Maldivians and the ensuing mudslinging was amplified by social media-led boycotts of the Maldives. This stirred the Maldivian government to scramble to control the damage, while New Delhi's stoking of grassroots Hindu nationalism continued to prove dangerous for India's diplomatic standing in the region. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives Establishes Air Corps and Inducts UAVs into Service - Atlas News

On March 15th, the President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, announced the creation of the country’s National Defence Force’s first Air Corps and inducted three Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The nighttime induction ceremony occurred at Maafaru International Airport, located at Noofu Atoll in the northern Maldives. During the first part of the ceremony, two Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Lt. Generals spoke at the ceremony before the establishment ceremony for the Air Corps occurred. President Muizzu then gave a speech regarding both the Air Corps and the Bayrakar UAVs. Click here to read… [11]

Myanmar

Myanmar junta facing 'existential threat': UN expert - CNA

Myanmar's junta is already facing an "existential threat" but the world could help end its "nightmare" rule with coordinated sanctions, the UN special rapporteur on the country said Wednesday (Mar 20). Mass casualties among junta forces, as well as defections, surrenders, and recruitment challenges, have led to dwindling troop numbers, posing "an existential threat for the Myanmar military", said Tom Andrews. Click here to read… [12]

No bids at auction for Myanmar democracy icon Suu Kyi’s home - RFA

A junta court-ordered auction of jailed democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s historic home in Myanmar’s Yangon region concluded with no buyers, sources said Wednesday, after the bidding price was set at more than 300 billion kyats, or about US$90 million. Critics have called the auction part of an attempt by the military regime to “obliterate the history” of Myanmar’s democratic movement, while the country’s shadow government of former civilian leaders vowed to take legal action against anyone who tries to purchase the home. Click here to read… [13]

ACLED Insight | Violent Escalations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State - Relief Web

In Myanmar, territorial gains made by resistance groups have often led to indiscriminate airstrikes by the military junta. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for calm in Rakhine state on 19 March 2024, and ACLED data show just how widespread the phenomenon has become. From 1 November 2023 until 8 March, the military carried out 588 airstrikes across Myanmar, of which 19% were against targets in Rakhine state. Of all strikes recorded in Rakhine so far, 34% have targeted civilians. Click here to read… [14]

Nepal

Nepal's billionaire Binod Chaudhary under CIB scanner over land grab scandal - Himalayan Times

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has written to Speaker Devraj Ghimire informing him that it is investigating Nepali Congress lawmaker Binod Chaudhary in connection with the Bansbari Leather and Shoe factory land grab case. Click here to read… [15]

Nepali citizens voluntarily joined Russian Army; some are unwilling to return: Russian Ambassador - My Republica

Finance Minister Barshman Pun discussed the illegal recruitment of Nepali citizens in the Russian army with the Russian ambassador to Nepal, Aleksei Novikov. During the meeting, Finance Minister Pun drew the attention of Ambassador Novikov, who reached the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, to create an environment for returning the bodies of Nepalis who were killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, treating the injured, and providing relief and compensation to the families of the deceased. Click here to read… [16]

DPM Shrestha’s due China visit puts BRI execution in focus - Kathmandu Post

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the immediate-past finance minister, Prakash Sharan Mahat, expressed serious reservations over Nepal’s preparations to potentially sign the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan

Islamabad seeking 24th bailout, IMF confirms-Dawn

Announ¬c¬ing the staff-level agreement on the successful completion of the existing short-term facility, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday confirmed Pakistan was seeking a 24th medium-term bailout package for a permanent push towards longstanding structural reforms. Click here to read… [18]

Zero tolerance for border attacks: PM-The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a resolute declaration on Wednesday, asserting zero tolerance towards any form of cross-border attacks, as stated in a press release from the PM Office. Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif emphasised the imperative to prevent terrorist infiltration from neighbouring territories, reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering stance against such threats. Click here to read… [19]

Imran predicts govt’s fall, his release in four to five months-Dawn

Former prime minister Imran Khan does not see the incumbent government lasting more than four to five months, and believes that its fall will pave the way for his re¬-lease from Adiala Jail. Click here to read… [20]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka chamber to hold summit on climate threat - Economy Next

Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it will hold a ‘climate summit’ from May 7 to 9, bringing together key stakeholders to identify threats to the economy and the actions that businesses can take. Click here to read… [21]

Tourist arrivals hit new high this year - Island.lk

Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Athula Galkatiya reported that from January 1st to March 19th, 2024, the number of air passengers who utilized Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) services amounted to 850,000. Click here to read… [22]

Nuclear-based energy for Sri Lanka- Island.lk

Six countries have offered to build nuclear power plants in Sri Lanka, The Island of 08 March has reported, quoting Prof. S. R. D. Rosa, Chairman – Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board. The proposal that Sri Lanka invest in nuclear energy surfaces from time to time. I see two major negatives that will accrue to this country if this proposal is implemented. Click here to read… [23]