Neighborhood News Digest- 17 February 2025

Afghanistan

UNSC Grants 23-Day Travel Exemption to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar-Tolo News

The United Nations Security Council sanctions committee has announced a 23-day travel exemption for Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs. In a statement, the committee said that the purpose of this exemption is for Baradar’s travel to Doha for medical treatment. The Security Council’s statement mentions that this exemption has been issued under resolution 1988 and is valid from February 9 to March 3, 2025. Click here to read... [2]

Afghanistan’s exports to India grow- The Khaama Press

Indian media has reported that over the past two years, the country’s imports from Afghanistan have increased, with bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan reaching a value of $642.29 million. According to the report, the largest exports from Afghanistan to India include agricultural products such as saffron, raisins, figs, apples, potatoes, almonds, apricots, onions, garlic, pomegranates, and mixed nuts. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh

Jaishankar meets Bangladesh FM, backs BIMSTEC cooperation; subtly rejects Muhammad Yunus's call to revive SAARC – Deccan Herald

India stressed regional cooperation within the framework of the BIMSTEC and tacitly rejected the recent attempts by the interim government of Bangladesh to revive the SAARC, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with his counterpart in Muhammad Yunus’s regime in Dhaka, Md. Touhid Hossain, in Muscat on Sunday. Click here to read... [4]

Amid 'Deep State' Charges, US Cuts Bangladesh "Political Landscape" Funds - NDTV

In its bid to save US taxpayers' money, the Donald Trump administration's cost-cutting team--Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-- has cancelled a slew of overseas projects, including one in Bangladesh that raised several eyebrows. The billionaire Elon Musk-led department said it is cancelling $29 million funding intended for "strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh". Click here to read... [5]

Bhutan

Jaishankar Holds Talks With His Counterparts From Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka And Bhutan – ZEE News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held meetings with his counterparts from Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka on the sidelines of Indian Ocean Conference in Oman's capital Muscat on Sunday. Jaishankar held a meeting with his Bhutan counterpart DN Dhungyel, with the discussion focused on advancing bilateral and regional cooperation. Click here to read... [6]

Maldives

Import duty drop not related to China FTA: Saeed- edition.mv

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has said that there is no relation between the decrease in import duties and the implementation of the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement. He said that since the FTA was implemented last month, only a one percent decrease has been recorded in import duties. Click here to read... [7]

Maldives, Türkiye Explore Strategic Tourism and Cultural Partnerships-PSM News

The Maldives and Türkiye held extensive discussions aimed at bolstering cooperation in tourism and culture. These deliberations were conducted during a high-level meeting between Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, the Maldivian Ambassador to Türkiye, and Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ankara, underscored the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen bilateral ties in these vital sectors. The discussions centred on various strategies to enhance mutual collaboration and promote cultural exchange. Click here to read... [8]

Myanmar

Under revised free movement regime, 22 gates along Myanmar border functional, 10 on Manipur border – The Hindu

As many as 22 out of 43 crossing points along the Myanmar border under the revised Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement have started functioning, said a senior government official on Thursday. At least 10 border gates, to regulate the movement of people living within 10 km of the India-Myanmar border, have started operations in Manipur, five gates each are operational in Mizoram and Nagaland and two in Arunachal Pradesh. Click here to read... [9]

7,000 shared biometric details with Assam Rifles to enter India from Myanmar – The New Indian Express

Nearly two months after implementing stiff conditions under the amended Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar borders (IMB), the border guarding force Assam Rifles (AR) allowed cross-frontier movements of 7,000 individuals on the basis of their biometric details. Click here to read... [10]

Pakistan

Pakistan's skilled labour can support Saudi Vision 2030: Finance minister-The Express Tribune

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has highlighted the country’s potential to export skilled labour to Saudi Arabia in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development framework. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and boost sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. The initiative has created an increasing demand for skilled workers, which Pakistan hopes to meet. Click here to read... [11]

Govt blocks Peca resolution amid nationwide protests by journalists-Dawn

The government successfully blocked a resolution against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2025 amendments in the Senate on Friday by pointing out the quorum at the last moment. The resolution called for the government to engage journalists’ unions, media organisations and relevant stakeholders in the amendment process to ensure a balanced, fair and democratic legal framework. Click here to read... [12]

Sri Lanka

All eyes on NPP government’s maiden budget today – Daily Mirror

Sri Lankans eagerly awaits the maiden budget of the NPP government which is expected to be presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today. President Dissanayake will be the fourth head of state to present a budget. Three heads of state namely Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe have presented budgets in Parliament during the recent past. Click here to read... [13]

SLPP meets Julie Chung: Discusses USAID funding to Sri Lanka – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) briefed U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung on the SLPP’s proposal for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate into the use of USAID funds by both registered and unregistered NGOs in Sri Lanka, with a focus on ensuring transparency in the allocation of U.S. taxpayer resources. Click here to read... [14]