Neighborhood News Digest - 22 January 2025

Afghanistan

Haqqani Meets UAE President to Discuss Regional Stability-Tolo News

Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Acting Minister of Interior, along with Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Head of Intelligence for the Islamic Emirate, visited the United Arab Emirates and met with the country's President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, the discussions focused on regional stability, shared interests, and Afghanistan’s economic potential. Click here to read… [2]

Iran Seeks Direct Intelligence Ties with Kabul-Tolo News

Iranian media outlets have reported that Iran has requested the establishment of a direct communication channel between the intelligence agencies of Kabul and Tehran. The Islamic Emirate delegation, which traveled to Iran and met with officials from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice of that country, considered direct communication between the specialized sectors of both countries the most effective way to resolve common issues. Click here to read… [3]

Islamic Emirate Confirms Prisoner Exchange with the US- Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate has confirmed the exchange of an Afghan prisoner for two American detainees. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Afghan prisoner released by the US, identified as Khan Mohammad, had been held in custody in California. Click here to read… [4]

Trump halts US Refugee program for three months, impacting thousands of Afghans-The Khaama Press

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order suspending the country’s refugee admission program for at least three months. The White House stated that resumption depends on aligning refugee admissions with U.S. interests. This decision is expected to impact thousands of Afghan migrants. According to the White House on Monday, January 20, the suspension is necessary to ensure that the program does not strain resources or compromise national security. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Global focus urged on Rohingya crisis as refugee influx worsens, says Yunus – The Daily Star

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the international community to refocus on the Rohingya crisis, citing the arrival of approximately 100,000 additional refugees, which has intensified the burden on Bangladesh. "The situation is getting complicated. They are pushing more Rohingyas to Bangladesh," he said yesterday during a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Click here to read… [6]

Foreign adviser’s China tour: 10 extra years for repaying Chinese loans – The Daily Star

Beijing has agreed in principle to extend the repayment period for Chinese loans and assured Dhaka it will look into the request to lower the interest rate to ease Bangladesh's foreign debt repayment pressure. China is Bangladesh's fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with total loans disbursed since 1975 coming to $7.5 billion. Click here to read… [7]

BGB thwarts reported BSF bid to install fence along Joypurhat border - Dhaka Tribune

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has thwarted yet another attempt allegedly by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to install a barbed-wire fence along the border in Uchna, Panchbibi upazila, Joypurhat. Lieutenant Colonel Nahid Newaz, commander of the Joypurhat 20 BGB battalion, said that when BSF troops attempted to build a barbed wire fence on Tuesday morning, BGB members intervened, forcing them to abandon the fence construction and leave. Click here to read… [8]

Germany to support Bangladesh in democratic transition: German Chancellor – Prothom Alo

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Tuesday said his government would do its best to support Bangladesh in its transition to democracy. The German Chancellor made the comments when he met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Summit in the Swiss city of Davos. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan secures USD 20M climate grant to bolster urban resilience amid rising climate risks – Kuensel

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) is providing USD 20 million (M) to enhance climate resilience in urban landscapes and communities in the Thimphu-Paro region. This grant comes at a time when Bhutan is facing reduced external grant inflows following its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in December 2023. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

Goods worth MVR 1.9 million cleared under Maldives-China FTA – Adhadhu

Customs cleared goods worth MVR 1.9 million under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and Maldives which came into force on January 1. In a post on X, Customs said nine shipments by air and three shipments by sea have been cleared under the FTA so far. The value of the goods brought by air was MVR 882,381 while the value of the goods brought by sea was MVR 1,040,875. Customs did not disclose the types of goods. This is the first Free Trade Agreement signed with a country in Maldives' history. Click here to read… [11]

Indian High Commissioner meets Foreign Minister Khaleel – Adhadhu

Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramaniam paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel on January 20. The meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry in Male'. Khaleel congratulated Balasubramaniam on presenting his credentials to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. They exchanged views on fostering the positive momentum in the Maldives-India partnership and explored avenues to strengthen ties. Balasubramaniam replaces former Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar who was appointed on November 10, 2021. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar junta says it deported over 50,000 scam centre workers to China – The Times of India

Myanmar's ruling junta said January 21 it had deported to China more than 50,000 people suspected of involvement in online scam operations since October 2023, as it made a rare call to neighbouring countries to intervene. Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners who are often trafficked and forced to work, swindling their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars. An editorial published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper Tuesday detailed the extent of the criminal activities -- including online scams and gambling -- publicly for the first time. Click here to read… [13]

China, Myanmar, Thailand reach consensus to eradicate telecom fraud centres – Reuters

Officials from China, Myanmar, Thailand reached a consensus on eradicating telecommunication fraud centres in Myanmar on January 21 during a meeting in the Chinese city of Kunming, said China's national broadcaster. At the same meeting, authorities from Myanmar, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam agreed to arrest leaders of criminal syndicates, dismantle telecom fraud centres, and "make every effort" to coordinate the rescue of those trapped there, according to CCTV. China has recently stepped up its rhetoric on cracking down on online scams following a series of cases, including one involving a Chinese actor who went missing near the Thai-Myanmar border. Last week, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Southeast Asian countries to take strong measures against online gambling and telecom fraud in a rare meeting with the region's envoys in Beijing. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

Pakistan secures $1b loan from two Middle Eastern banks-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced on Tuesday that Pakistan has finalised terms for a $1 billion loan from two Middle Eastern banks, marking another step in the country’s efforts to secure much-needed financing. The loans, agreed at an interest rate of 6-7%, were confirmed during an interview at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. Aurangzeb revealed that the agreements include one bilateral loan and one trade financing arrangement, both with a short-term tenure of up to one year. Click here to read… [15]

Mohsin Naqvi meets key US officials, discusses bilateral ties-The Express Tribune

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi participated in the prestigious Lincoln Liberty Ball dinner in Washington, receiving a warm welcome from American officials and dignitaries. During the event, Naqvi met with prominent figures, including Senator Tommy Tuberville, Congressman Ken Calvert, former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Mississippi Governor Philip Bryant. Discussions focused on mutual interests and avenues to strengthen bilateral relations. Click here to read… [16]

Gwadar International Airport to benefit entire country’s economy: PM Shehbaz- Dawn

The newly inaugurated Gwadar International Airport would not only benefit the economy of Balochistan but Pakistan’s overall economy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday during a federal cabinet meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. Pakistan’s largest airport, the Gwadar International Airport, became operational on Monday with the landing of the first PIA flight from Karachi carrying 46 passengers. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

December inflation records 2% YoY dip, extending deflationary trend to fourth consecutive month – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka’s National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) recorded a 2.0 percent year-on-year decline in December 2024, extending the deflationary trend to its fourth consecutive month. While the overall trend shows a dip, the national prices measured every month rose by 1.1 percent in December, picking up from a 0.1 percent increase in November as the prices of nearly every item in the food basket used to measure the inflation rose, with the largest increases seen in vegetables, coconuts, and rice, further validating the economic and political discourse taking place among the Sri Lankans every day. Click here to read… [18]

Tourist arrivals cross 100,000 mark within first 2 weeks of January – Daily Mirror

Tourist arrival crossed the 100,000 mark within the first two weeks of January, recording a Year-on-Year (YoY) increase of 22 percent. Provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed that the island nation welcomed a total of 112, 415 international visitors. While the daily arrival average currently stands at 8,029, the weekly average is about 56,207. Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lankan media spotlights Dissanayake’s ‘balancing act’ with India and China – The Hindu

Following Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent, four-day visit to China, analysis and commentary in local media pointed to the leader’s “balancing act” with Beijing and New Delhi, Colombo’s two key partners vying for greater strategic influence on the island. Click here to read… [20]