Neighborhood News Digest- 5 March 2025

Afghanistan

CASA-1000 Project in Afghanistan Reaches 70% Completion-Tolo News

The Ministry of Energy and Water has announced that 70% of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project in Afghanistan has been completed. Matiullah Abid, the ministry’s spokesperson, added that if the World Bank provides the necessary funding, the Islamic Emirate is prepared to complete the remaining work on this project. Click here to read… [2]

Taliban representatives meet Indian Ambassador in Tehran to discuss strengthening ties-The Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Embassy in Tehran, under the Taliban administration, has confirmed that Fazl Mohammad Haqqani, the head of the embassy, recently held a meeting with Rudra Gaurav Shresth, the Indian Ambassador to Iran. In a statement issued on Monday, the embassy added that during the meeting, both parties emphasized the importance of developing bilateral cooperation between Afghanistan and India. Click here to read… [3]

Islamic Emirate and Iran Discuss Water Rights in Tehran-Tolo News

In a recent meeting between the Deputy Minister of Interior of Iran and a delegation from the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Emirate in Tehran, the issue of water rights between the two countries was discussed. Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the Deputy Minister of Interior of Iran, emphasized that resolving the water rights issue could pave the way for broader economic cooperation between the two nations. Click here to read… [4]

UN and Japan sign $6 million agreement to support returnees in Afghanistan-The Khaama Press

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced that it has signed a financial agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the livelihoods of returnees and internally displaced persons in 13 provinces of Afghanistan. In a statement released on Monday, March 3, JICA mentioned that over six million dollars will be allocated for the support of these individuals over the course of one year. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

Hasina to face trial in-person or in absentia, Yunus tells Sky News – The Daily Star

In an interview with Sky News, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina will stand trial for crimes against humanity. "A trial will be taking place. Not only her, but also all the people who are associated with her - her family members, her clients or associates," Yunus said at the interview published today. Click here to read… [6]

Dhaka hopes Indian visa services will resume soon – The Daily Star

Dhaka wants a good working relationship with New Delhi and hopes the Indian high commission will soon resume issuing visas to Bangladeshis, said Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain yesterday. "We have always said we want a good working relationship with India -- we have a clear position on it," he told reporters at the foreign ministry. Click here to read… [7]

Mob attacks two Iranians in Dhaka: Police – Prothom Alo

A mob attack on two Iranian nationals and another individual occurred in the Bashundhara Residential Area of Dhaka, according to police. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon. The police later rescued the two foreigners and admitted them to hospital. According to police, the injured Iranians are Mohammad Ahmed, 74, and his grandson MD. Mehedi, 18. They were visiting Bangladesh as tourists. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

New Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway line proposed to boost India-Bhutan connectivity-The Economic Times

A new railway line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu linking Assam with Bhutan has been proposed to improve cross-border connectivity and strengthen bilateral ties. Indian Railways is actively advancing towards the Prime Minister’s vision of the ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Neighborhood First Policy’ by undertaking several new railway projects to enhance connectivity with neighboring countries. Click here to read… [9]

‘Cannot overflow’ country with tourists: What Bhutan PM said on tourism, India in interview-The Indian express

It is unusual for a country as powerful as India to have such a close relationship with a small neighbour like Bhutan without any vested interest, according to Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. In an interview with Divya A, he spoke about how Bhutan values high-value tourism, and though it needs footfall, including from India, the government doesn’t wish to “overflow” the country with tourists. Click here to read… [10]

Maldives

China ranks among top importers to Maldives, fails to make list of top export destinations – Raajje

Statistics by the Maldives Customs Service have revealed that while China is one of the countries that imports the most goods to the Maldives, the east Asian nation is not among the countries to which the Maldives exports the most goods. According to the import-export statistics for January 2025 released by Maldives Customs Service, Thailand is the country to which the Maldives exported the most goods. Thailand is followed by the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and neighboring India. Although the Maldives and China have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), eliminating duties on many items imported from one country to the other, it is noted that there has been no positive change in the huge trade imbalance between the two countries. While there are no significant exports from the Maldives to China, China imported goods worth MVR 1,043 million to the Maldives in January. Click here to read… [11]

India to Assist Maldives’ Fisheries Promotion – PSM News

India is engaged in discussions with the Maldives government to provide assistance to promote the island nation’s fisheries sector, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives G.K. Balasubramaniam had said. The government has created the Maldives Fisheries and Ocean Resources Marketing and Promotion Limited (MFORMP) with the primary task of promoting the country’s fisheries sector. The company was founded with the primary objective of expanding the nation’s fishing industry, and enhancing its social benefits by promoting and advertising Maldivian products on the global market. This includes products from aquaculture, mariculture, and all marine sources. To boost revenue, the company will launch a distinctive brand for local fisheries, advertising it locally and in various lucrative international markets. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Myanmar’s military govt head holds talks with Putin – The Tribune

Russian President Vladimir Putin was holding talks on Tuesday with the head of Myanmar’s military government, who is seeking to cement cooperation with Moscow as he faces isolation and sanctions from the West. Gen Min Aung Hlaing is making his fourth trip to Russia since his army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Western nations have ostracised Myanmar’s ruling military and imposed economic and political sanctions in response to the takeover and the violent repression of opposition, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and given rise to an armed conflict widely seen as a civil war. Click here to read… [13]

China’s CITIC and Myanmar Junta Discuss Progress on Rakhine Deep-Sea Port – Stimson

Executives from Chinese state-owned firm CITIC met with junta officials on Friday to press for speedy implementation of the planned Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone and deep-sea port under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The meeting focused on how to expedite the project even though Rakhine State has largely fallen to rebels. Junta media said the two sides “agreed that the development plan for the deep-sea port should be updated to meet the needs of the current situation.” Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

IMF scrutiny-Dawn

AN IMF delegation is in Islamabad to assess progress on the Fund’s ongoing $7bn funding programme amidst hopes that the review will not encounter any serious obstacles that could delay the next tranche. The mission will evaluate how Pakistan has done on quantitative performance criteria, structural benchmarks and indicative targets for the first half of the current fiscal year. There have been some “technical slippages”, such as delays in meeting the deadlines for certain goals, like legislation on agriculture tax. Click here to read… [15]

Pakistan assisted in US arrest of ‘top terrorist’ behind 2021 Kabul airport bombing, Trump says-Dawn

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the person responsible for killing 13 US service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 had been arrested with the help of Pakistan and was now on his way to the US to face justice. Trump shared the news in his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term. However, he gave no further details. Click here to read… [16]

Terrorist attack foiled at Bannu Cantt by security forces-The Express Tribune

Security forces successfully foiled a major terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least six terrorists, according to security sources on Tuesday. The attempted assault involved suicide bombers from the militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who drove two explosive-laden vehicles into the perimeter of the cantonment, triggering massive explosions. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

INS Kuthar strengthens maritime ties with Sri Lanka during Colombo visit – The Statesman

In a significant move to bolster maritime cooperation, Indian Navy Ship (INS) Kuthar, a frontline warship of the Eastern Fleet operating under the Eastern Naval Command, has arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka, as part of its mission deployment in the Indian Ocean Region. Click here to read… [18]

SL economy still vulnerable despite positive developments – IMF mission chief – Daily Mirror

Despite positive developments and recovery expected this year, Sri Lanka’s economy is still vulnerable, and it is critical to sustain the reform momentum for long-term growth, a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said yesterday. Addressing a virtual press conference, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer said that the IMF Executive Board approved the third review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility Arrangement with Sri Lanka. Click here to read… [19]

Govt. to woo top ten shipping liners in world for Colombo port expansion – Daily Mirror

The government will call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from the top ten shipping companies in the world next month for the expansion of the Colombo Port by implementing the Colombo North Port project and the phase II of the West Container Terminal (WCT), a Minister said yesterday. Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku told Daily Mirror that the Colombo Port is currently in operation with half a dozen of terminals with five dedicated for container handling. He said plans are in place to expand the port with the addition of new terminals to make it a marine hub in the real sense. Click here to read… [20]