Neighborhood News Digest- 6 March 2025

Afghanistan

Mastermind of Kabul Airport attack transferred to the US-The Khaama Press

U.S. officials have confirmed that Mohammad Sharifullah, the individual accused of masterminding the suicide attack at Kabul Airport in August 2021, has been transferred to the United States. On Wednesday, March 5, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Kash Patel, announced via X that Sharifullah was handed over to U.S. authorities at Dallas Air Base on Tuesday night. The transfer involved collaboration between the FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the U.S. Department of Justice. Click here to read… [2]

Trump Thanks Pakistan for Arrest of Kabul Airport Attack Planner-Tolo News

US President Donald Trump, in his first speech to Congress, announced the arrest of the main planner behind the explosion at Kabul International Airport. Trump stated that the US, with Pakistan’s cooperation, had apprehended this ISIS member, who is now on his way to the United States. Click here to read… [3]

Pakistan to cooperate with US on retrieval of weapons from Taliban-The Khaama Press

Pakistan is expected to cooperate with the U.S. in efforts to retrieve weapons from the Taliban, as discussed in a recent conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Click here to read… [4]

Mujahid: Kabul Airport attack mastermind’s arrest in Pakistan exposes ISIS safe havens-The Khaama Press

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, reacted to statements by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the arrest of the mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport attack. He claimed that the arrest in Pakistan highlighted the existence of ISIS safe havens in the country. Click here to read… [5]

Bangladesh

SC acquits Tarique, Gias Uddin from money laundering case – The Daily Star

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today acquitted BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his close aide Gias Uddin Al Mamun from a money laundering case, in which they were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the High Court. Click here to read… [6]

Factories shut after July uprising struggle to reopen – The Daily Star

Mills and factories that were vandalised, ransacked or set ablaze during and after the July uprising have been struggling to reopen due to financial crises, unavailability of bank loans and their politically exposed owners facing legal consequences. Click here to read… [7]

Pakistan eager to hold foreign secretary level talks with Bangladesh to boost ties – Dhaka Tribune

Pakistan wants to hold foreign secretary-level consultations and the meeting of the Joint Economic Commission with Bangladesh as part of Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen the ties with Dhaka. The issues were discussed when Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, additional secretary (Asia Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan called on Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Md Jashim Uddin on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to read… [8]

Pakistani ship with rice reaches Chattogram port – Prothom Alo

A ship carrying the Pakistani flag has reached the Chattogram port from Pakistan’s Qasim port with rice. The ship named MV SIBI was anchored at the jetty on Wednesday. The food directorate said some 50,000 tonnes of Atap rice is being imported from Pakistan on G2G basis. The first consignment arrived on Wednesday. The remaining consignments will arrive very soon. Click here to read… [9]

Bhutan

Assam: ABSU-BIFA delegation meets in Bhutan to strengthen ties-The Sentinel

In a significant move to foster cross-border friendship and cultural ties, a delegation of All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) led by president Dipen Boro had a meeting with the representatives of the Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) at Gelephu recently. The primary objective of the meeting was to invite distinguished guests and cultural troupes from Bhutan to the 57th annual conference of the ABSU, scheduled to be held at Dotma from March 13 to 16. Click here to read… [10]

GMC’s 2024 Milestones: A New Chapter for Bhutan’s Growth- Daily Bhutan

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Special Administrative Region marked a significant year in 2024, with key legislative, infrastructural, and economic advancements establishing its reputation as a sustainable and forward-thinking urban centre. Click here to read… [11]

Maldives

State import, export revenue plummets by MVR 86M in January – Raajje

While Maldives Customs Service recorded a revenue of MVR 373 million in January of last year, according to Customs statistics, the revenue received in January of this year was MVR 287 million. This means that the amount received in import and export revenue has decreased by MVR 86 million. From the first day of January 2025, under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with China, the Maldives does not charge import duty on many types of goods imported from China, which is one of the countries from which the Maldives imports the most goods. China imported goods worth MVR 1,043 million to the Maldives during January. According to import-export statistics, goods worth MVR 5.2 billion were imported to the Maldives in January. Click here to read… [12]

Maldives Backs Egypt’s Gaza Reconstruction Plan Presented at Arab League Summit – PSM News

The Maldives has welcomed the adoption of the Gaza reconstruction plan presented by Egypt, which was endorsed at the Arab League Summit on Gaza, in Cairo, Egypt, on 4 March. The Maldives’ support was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel on a post on social media platform X following the summit’s approval of the Egypt’s proposal. The Arab summit in Cairo, Egypt, approved Egypt’s proposal to replace US President Donald Trump's vision of expelling Gaza's Muslims and developing a ‘Riviera’ in Gaza. Click here to read… [13]

Maldives submits observations in Rohingya Muslims case proceeding at ICJ – Raajje

The Agent of Maldives for the case, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, has submitted written observations on behalf of the Maldives on 28 February 2025 to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar)". The case was filed by The Gambia against Myanmar at the ICJ on 11 November 2019, concerning the violent and inhumane acts being committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. In line with the role of an intervening party, the Maldives' observations focus on the interpretation of the articles of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Specifically, it highlights the interpretation of the "Duty to Punish Genocide" under Articles 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the Convention. Click here to read… [14]

Myanmar

Mizoram MP visits rebel outfit in Myanmar, asks them to join the Indian Union – The Hindu

Mizoram MP K. Vanlalvena visited the camp and offices of the Chinland Council, a rebel outfit controlling parts of north-west Myanmar in areas bordering India, last week. He said that he had invited them to join the Union of India, given that there is no official government in Myanmar, and that there is a shared tribal bond on both sides of the border. Mr. Vanlalvena, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Mizo National Front (MNF), told The Hindu that he had informed Mizoram Governor V.K. Singh and the Assam Rifles before crossing over to Myanmar on foot from Mizoram over the past week. He said that he met the council members to “forge friendship and brotherhood”, as the outfit has controlled and administered areas bordering Mizoram for the past six months, and as there is no government in Myanmar. Click here to read… [15]

Russia and Myanmar sign agreement on small-scale nuclear plant construction in Myanmar – Reuters

Russia and Myanmar signed an agreement on March 4, 2025 on construction of a small-scale nuclear plant in Myanmar after talks in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. An intergovernmental agreement signed during a state visit to Russia covers cooperation on the development of a 110 MW small modular reactor project in Myanmar. The agreement sets out the terms and main areas of interaction between the parties and the possibility of a further expansion of capacity to 330 MW. It was signed by Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev and Myanmar's Science and Technology Minister Myo Thein Kyaw. A memorandum of cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety was also signed. Click here to read… [16]

Pakistan

US National Security Advisor praises Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts in call with Ishaq Dar-The Express Tribune

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from US National Security Advisor Michael Walters, thanking Pakistan for its efforts in combating terrorism and expressed appreciation for the country’s ongoing actions in the fight against extremism. Click here to read… [17]

Pakistan rises to second in Global Terrorism Index-Dawn

Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) provides a comprehensive summary of the key trends and patterns in terrorism over the last 17 years. Click here to read… [18]

Imran Khan reaches out to Fazlur Rehman: 'This is the time to support us'-The Express Tribune

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja conveyed a message from Imran Khan to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, urging him to join forces with PTI and emphasizing, 'Now is the time for you to support us'. During a press conference in Islamabad a day earlier, Raja voiced concern that many youngsters were losing faith in the country's future and seeking better opportunities abroad. Reaffirming Khan's message, he said, “This is the time for Maulana Fazlur Rehman to join us in this struggle.” Click here to read… [19]

Sri Lanka

Stop your fishermen from destroying Sri Lankan fishing industry: Bimal tells India – Daily Mirror

The Central government of India and the state government of Tamilnadu should enforce the law on its fishermen who are destroying the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen in the North, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake told Parliament today. “The best assistance India should provide for the Northern Fishermen in Sri Lanka is to enforce its laws and prevent its fishermen from destroying the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen in the North,” Ratnayake said. Click here to read… [20]

Rameswaram fishermen call off strike, thank CM Stalin for enhancing aid for owners of boats seized by Sri Lankan Navy – The Hindu

Fishermen of Rameswaram on Tuesday ended their eight-day long strike, a day after Chief Minister M K Stalin hiked the financial aid to fishermen whose boats were impounded in Sri Lanka and assistance for families of fishermen languishing in the island nation’s jail. The fishermen also called off their indefinite fast, which they had begun on March 1. Click here to read… [21]