Neighbourhood News Digest – 04 December 2024

Afghanistan

Foreign Ministry: Broad Relations with All Nations Sought, Including India– Tolo News

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says that Afghanistan's interim government seeks to establish broad and robust relations with India. Takal emphasized that the Islamic Emirate aims to build strong, trust-based relationships with all regional and global countries, highlighting the importance of significant trade and economic cooperation. These remarks follow a recent report by the Indian newspaper Sunday Guardian, which quoted Islamic Emirate officials saying that now is the opportune time to strengthen relations between New Delhi and Kabul to counter Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan. Click here to read... [2]

China, Central Asia Agree to Support Afghanistan's Path to Peace: Wang Yi – Tolo News

China's ambassador to Kabul has previously expressed China's readiness to enhance political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan's interim government. During the Fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, China's Foreign Minister announced that Beijing and Central Asian nations have agreed to assist Afghanistan in achieving peace, stability, and reconstruction. According to China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, Wang Yi stated that China and the Central Asian countries have agreed to collaborate in combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, and foreign interference in the region's internal affairs. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

India-Bangladesh tensions soar amid protests – BBC

A war of words between Bangladesh and neighbour India is threatening to spiral out of control following protests and counter-protests over the alleged ill-treatment of Hindu minorities in the country. Diplomatic relations between the neighbours and once-close allies have been prickly since August, when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh after a public uprising (she is currently in India). The latest trigger was the arrest of a Hindu monk last week, which set off protests in India by activists from Hindu organisations and politicians including members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh cuts electricity imports from Adani Power – Business Today

Bangladesh has reportedly halved its electricity imports from India’s Adani Power, citing falling winter demand and unresolved payment issues worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The move follows months of financial strain as Dhaka grapples with a foreign exchange crisis. Adani Power, which operates a $2 billion plant in Jharkhand under a 25-year deal signed in 2017, had already reduced supply on October 31, citing overdue payments. In response, Bangladeshi officials asked the company to maintain only half its usual supply while clearing pending dues. “Winter demand is now down, so we have told them there is no need to run both units of the plant,” Md. Rezaul Karim, chairperson of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), was quoted in a Reuters report as saying. Click here to read... [5]

Interim govt expects $6bn in funding commitments by June 2025 – Dhaka Tribune

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on December 3, said the government expects commitments of around $6 billion from development partners, including the World Bank and IMF, June 2025, after an IMF Mission, led by IMF Country Representative Jayendu De, met him at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The third review mission of the IMF arrived in the capital to assess progress in meeting the conditions for releasing the fourth tranche of the $4.7 billion loan agreement. In Washington, the Finance Adviser said discussions were held with the World Bank, IMF, the OPEC Fund, and the government expects some commitments by June 2025. The Adviser noted that the IMF Mission is likely to return in March next year for further discussions on their next course of action. Click here to read... [6]

Bhutan

Economy projected to grow over 7 percent – Kuensel

Bhutan’s economy is set to grow, with the World Bank projecting a robust 7.2 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The economy has been on a steady recovery path since the pandemic, with GDP growth of 5.3 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24. The country’s gross international reserves also grew modestly to USD 624 million, supported by reduced crypto-related IT imports and a gradual tourism recovery, according to the World Bank. After struggling in recent years, the agriculture sector grew by 3.4 percent in fiscal year 2023-24. Click here to read... [7]

Bhutan king to visit India tomorrow, will meet PM Modi – The Times of India

Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will pay a day-long visit to India on Thursday, govt said in an official announcement. During the visit, the king will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. External affairs minister S Jaishankar will also call on the king. Significantly, the visit follows Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong's visit to Thimphu last month. Bhutan has been mindful of India's security concerns, especially in Doklam area located at China-Bhutan-India tri-junction. While Bhutan is keen to resolve the boundary issue, it does not want to rush into any settlement that undermines India's security. Click here to read... [8]

Maldives

President Muizzu thanks Chinese Ambassador for her services – Adhadhu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has thanked Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin for the services during her tenure. Lixin paid a farewell call on Muizzu on December 3. During the meeting, Muizzu extended his greetings and best wishes and highlighted China’s role in aiding developmental projects for various sectors of the Maldives. Lixin expressed her gratitude to the President and the Maldivian government for the unwavering support provided during her tenure. She commended the government's resilience, remarkable achievements and positive development throughout the year. Click here to read... [9]

Finance Minister assures no risk of bankruptcy amid economic reforms – PSM News

Minister of Finance Moosa Zameer has assured that there is no imminent threat of bankruptcy, citing the strong measures taken under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s leadership. In response to questions from Parliament, Minister Zameer explained that the government inherited a debt of USD 8 billion, with nearly two-thirds of it accumulated by the previous administration. The current government has focused on reducing expenditure, facilitating debt repayment, and increasing income generation. The finance minister highlighted that President Muizzu has sought to extend the debt repayment period with the support of friendly countries. Additionally, the government has implemented austerity measures, including salary cuts for political employees and parliamentarians, and reduced spending by government agencies. These efforts have helped the Maldives avoid bankruptcy, with recent reports no longer predicting such a scenario. Click here to read... [10]

Myanmar

Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Myanmar pose security threat: Bhattacharya – Hindustan Times

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from West Bengal, Samik Bhattacharya on December 3 said undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar who have settled in the state and around an atomic energy institute, pose a threat to internal security. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, the lawmaker said the presence of undocumented Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants poses a threat to the country’s security, and he had flagged the issue with the state police multiple times. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar junta airstrikes kill at least 14 in Shan, Rakhine states – Myanmar Now

A boy was killed in southern Shan State’s Pekhon Township early morning of December 3, the latest casualty of regime airstrikes that have claimed the lives of at least 14 civilians since the weekend, according to sources. The incident occurred in Hseng Hkun, a village in the western part of the township near the border with Karenni (Kayah) State, at around 3am, the Karenni Human Rights Group (KHRG) reported. “As far as we know, one 14-year-old boy was killed and another was injured,” stated Banya Khung Aung, a representative of the group. Click here to read... [12]

Demonstration in Manipur's Churachandpur to protest scrapping FMR, fencing India-Myanmar border – The Economic Times

A demonstration was held in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Tuesday to protest the government's decision to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR). The demonstration, led by the United Zou Organisation (UZO), started at the 'Wall of Remembrance' around 11.30 am. Carrying posters and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans against the government's decision to scrap FMR and fence the international border. The demonstration was attended by Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip and Singngat MLA Chinlunthang, besides leaders of various Kuki-Zo tribes. A one-minute silence was also observed in remembrance of those killed in the ongoing ethnic violence in the state that has claimed over 250 lives since May last year. Click here to read... [13]

Pakistan

Imran Khan says he will approach UN, other forums to raise ‘Islamabad massacre’ issue – The Indian Express

Pakistan’s jailed former premier Imran Khan has said that he will approach the UN and other international forums to raise the “Islamabad massacre” issue, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to say that his party will have to show dead bodies to prove its claim. Khan also likened the alleged firing by the forces on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on November 26 in Islamabad to that of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Khan has been in jail since August last year and his party held a sit-in in Islamabad seeking his release, the return of the party’s stolen mandate and independence of judiciary. Click here to read... [14]

Dar, Iran FM agree to deepen cooperation in ‘all spheres’ – The Dawn

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday, during an official visit to Iran, where both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in “all spheres”. Dar, also the foreign minister, is in Iran to attend the 28th meeting of the Council Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), according to state-run Radio Pakistan. The deputy PM arrived in Mashhad last night, where he was received by Razavi Khorasan Vice Governor General Mohammad Ali Nabipoor and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu, the foreign ministry said in a post on X. Click here to read... [15]

Omar Ayub unhappy with NA briefing on IMF programme – The Dawn

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, on Monday accused the government of being non-transparent with details about a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission, that visited the country last month. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, which was partially held in-camera, the opposition leader — who hails from the PTI — said there was nothing secret about the IMF programme and journalists had reported everything, but the government merely wanted to avoid embarrassment over questions from parliamentarians. Click here to read... [16]

Sri Lanka

Japan to consider new projects only after considering their economic status only: Embassy – Daily Mirror Online

Japan will consider new projects in Sri Lanka only after examining any request from the Sri Lankan authorities and its economic status first, as stated by the Japanese Embassy. The embassy said its priority is to carry out 11 projects that were resumed after debt restructuring. The embassy was responding to a question whether Japan had pledged new projects after the new government was formed. Asked about the status of 11 ongoing projects, the embassy said most of them, including the Bandaranaike International Airport expansion project, are in progress smoothly. Click here to read... [17]

Sri Lanka's Port Expansion Led by Adani Group Progressing as Planned, Says Official – NDTV

Sri Lanka's port expansion project led by Indian conglomerate Adani Group is progressing as planned, an official was reported as saying on December 3. "Construction at the Colombo West International Terminal remains ongoing, with phase one of the project still set for completion in early 2025," Sirimevan Ranasinghe, chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, told Bloomberg. Ranasinghe is also a minority shareholder in the project. He informed the news agency that the project would be continuing as per their agreement inked with Adani Ports and special economic zone. Click here to read... [18]