Neighborhood News Digest - 25 March 2025

Afghanistan

US Removes Two Haqqani Network Members from Wanted List, Says AP-The Khaama Press

The Taliban has claimed that, in addition to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group’s interior minister, two other members of the Haqqani network, Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani, have been removed from the U.S. list of most-wanted individuals. According to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, these individuals are brothers and a nephew of Sirajuddin Haqqani. This announcement was reported by the Associated Press on March 23. Click here to read… [2]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt Will Comply With Afghan Refugee Deportation: Media-Tolo News

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has accepted the decision of the central government of Pakistan regarding the return of Afghan refugees by March 31, said news outlets, citing sources. Pakistani media outlets reported that, contrary to the statements of the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, the decision to deport Afghan refugees will also be implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Click here to read… [3]

WHO: Tuberculosis Increased by 3.3% in Afghanistan in 2024-Tolo News

March 24 marks World Tuberculosis Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has reported a 3.3% increase in tuberculosis cases in 2024 compared to 2023. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Representative in Afghanistan, assured cooperation with the health sector, particularly in the fight against tuberculosis. Click here to read… [4]

Bangladesh

Reform proposals: BNP opposes two-term cap on prime minister – The Daily Star

Bangladesh has hardly been able to utilise the generous zero-duty trade benefits offered by China due to a lack of product diversity, whereas Chinese imports have steadily risen, given the country's increasing reliance on a single sourcing destination. China has been the single largest trading partner for Bangladesh for many years, but imports from the country have far outweighed exports, with shipments from Bangladesh failing to cross even the one-billion-dollar mark. Click here to read… [5]

Yunus’ China tour: Trade and investment top priority – The Daily Star

Bangladesh is expecting to boost exports and bring investment and development support from China during Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus' first bilateral visit that will be watched closely by regional powers in the light of the changed Indo-Bangla ties. Yunus' visit to China this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, was due and has symbolic significance, said Imtiaz Ahmed, executive director for Centre for Alternatives. Click here to read… [6]

Genocide Day to be observed across Bangladesh – Dhaka Tribune

Tuesday, March 25, marks National Genocide Day, as the nation is set to solemnly remember the darkest chapter in its history—the heinous atrocities committed by Pakistani forces in 1971. This day is dedicated to honouring the memory of the countless lives lost and the resilience of the Bangladeshi people in their struggle for independence. In observance of the day, a symbolic one-minute blackout will be observed nationwide on Tuesday from 10:30pm to 10:31pm. Click here to read… [7]

Nahid demands cancellation of Awami League’s registration – Dhaka Tribune

Calling the Awami League a terrorist organization, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Md Nahid Islam on Monday demanded that the registration of the party be cancelled. Speaking virtually at an iftar event organized by the party’s Narayanganj district unit, Nahid, a former adviser in the interim government, said his party will resist if any effort is made to rehabilitate the Awami League again, alleging that some quarters are trying to rehabilitate it. Click here to read… [8]

Bhutan

Bhutan’s economic progress will be built on Brand, Trust, and Strength Economy: HM – Kuensel

His Majesty graces the Passing Out Parade ceremony of 2024 second cohort Gyalsung batch. His Majesty the King graced the Passing Out Parade ceremony of the Second Cohort of the 2024 Batch of the Gyalsung Training Programme at Jamtsholing, Samtse. Addressing Gyalsups across all four Academies—Jamtsholing, Khotokha, Pemathang, and Gyalpozhing—from Jamtsholing, His Majesty said, “Our aspirations for Bhutan’s lasting peace, prosperity and security are no longer distant dreams, but unfolding before.” With strengthening the economy as the highest priority, His Majesty said that Bhutan’s economic progress will be built on three key pillars—a Brand Economy, a Trust Economy, and a Strength Economy. “Bhutan’s reputation, built by generations before us, is our greatest asset and must be reinforced going forward,” His Majesty said. Click here to read… [9]

Maldives

Efforts Underway to Establish Early Warning Systems Across Maldives – Adhadhu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that early weather warning systems are being established across the Maldives to enhance national resilience against climate change. The President made the statement in a social media post on the occasion of the World Meteorological Day. In his post, the President reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to closing the early warning gap. He said that through investments in advanced meteorological infrastructure, the government was working to ensure that every island and citizen has access to timely and accurate warnings to improve resilience in the face of climate change. Click here to read… [10]

Actual value of Himmiya lagoon is USD 38.6 million – Adhadhu

The actual value of the Himmiya lagoon in Male' atoll to be given as payment for investing in a national security project under the cross-subsidy principle is USD 38.6 million. The estimated value of Himmiya lagoon is USD 38,650,000 under the Tourism Ministry’s rules to give islands and lagoons through the cross-subsidy principle. The estimate is calculated after adding the location premium charge and the value of a hectare in leasing lagoons in Male' atoll. However, government has decided to give the lagoon to an investor for much less than the actual value. That is an investment of USD 15 million under the presidential decree issued on March 21. The cross-subsidy rule does not require direct investment. Lagoons and islands are also given under this rule for the carrying out work on the project. This means the loss to the state can only be calculated after the investment amount is clear. However, the government is not expected to disclose any details as it is a national security project. Click here to read… [11]

Waste-to-Energy system in Thilafushi to be operational next year – Raajje

Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim has revealed that the waste-to-energy system in Thilafushi will be operational next year. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu visited Thilafushi to inspect the progress of the Greater Malé Environmental Improvement and Waste Management Project. Regarding the progress of the project, Minister Thoriq said that the 10 megawatts of energy produced under the project will be used in the Greater Malé Region. The second phase of the project includes introducing waste-to-energy technology and finding a solution to the 774 tons of waste generated daily in the area. He said that the waste-to-energy system will be operational by the end of next year, and that the system will burn 500 tons of waste per day, generating 13 megawatts of energy from the incinerated waste. Click here to read… [12]

Myanmar

Thai Parliament Seminar Addresses Security Impacts of Myanmar Crisis– The Irrawaddy

Thailand’s Parliament House hosted a two-day seminar on March 23 & 24 on the topic of Myanmar’s ongoing conflict and its implications for security along the countries’ troubled border, as well for Thailand more broadly and for the region. Organized by the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs and National Reform, the event, “Fostering Sustainable Peace and Security: Thailand and ASEAN’s Path towards Border Stability and Democracy” was joined by officials from the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and military, as well as representatives of anti-regime organizations from Myanmar, human rights groups, and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews. Click here to read… [13]

Myanmar clinic airstrike kills 11, says local – The Straits Times

A Myanmar junta airstrike on a remote village medical clinic killed 11 persons including a doctor and his wife, locals said. A 2021 military coup has plunged Myanmar into a fractious civil war between the junta, anti-coup guerillas and ethnic armed groups locked in a deadly stalemate over the South-east Asian country. Locals said the air strike on the morning of March 22 hit the village of Hnan Khar in the western region of Magway, in a zone currently held by anti-coup forces. While Myanmar’s military has suffered stinging territorial losses, analysts say its powerful air force, kept in the skies with Russian technical support, has been key to keeping its adversaries at bay. The number of military air strikes on civilians has risen year on year during the civil war, according to non-profit organisation Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled), with nearly 800 strikes in 2024. Click here to read… [14]

Pakistan

FM Dar backs talks with Kabul on security, trade-Dawn

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday endorsed the understanding reached with Kabul on continuing diplomatic engagement to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries. “DPM emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue with the interim Afghan government to address Pakistan’s concerns and promote bilateral relations,” the Foreign Office said after Mr Dar chaired a meeting on ties with Afghanistan. Click here to read… [15]

Mahrang, other BYC leaders face terror charges-Dawn

Police have registered an FIR against Dr Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), along with 150 others, on charges of forcibly taking away bodies from a morgue, incitement to violence and other alleged offences. The case relates to an incident at Civil Hospital Quetta, where BYC members allegedly stormed the morgue and took away the bodies of five ‘militants’ killed in an operation against train hijackers earlier this month. Click here to read… [16]

IMF turns down Islamabad's request to reduce property taxes-The Express Tribune

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has turned down Pakistan’s request to reduce taxes on property transactions, sources familiar with the negotiations said on Monday. The rejection comes as Islamabad struggles to meet the conditions for securing a staff-level agreement, which would pave the way for further financial assistance. Click here to read… [17]

Sri Lanka

Adani not ready to budge on original tariff rate for Mannar wind project – Daily Mirror

India’s Adani Group is not ready to compromise on the initially agreed tariff rate and other parameters of the 484 MW wind and transmission project in Mannar, despite its agreement to execute the project if Sri Lanka requests, Daily Mirror learns. Adani Green Energy SL Ltd informed Sri Lanka’s Energy Ministry its position in this regard after the Sri Lankan authorities including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the price of US $0.0826/kWh (8.26 US cents) quoted and agreed upon earlier is too high. Click here to read… [18]

UK imposes sanctions on four individuals including Shavendra Silva over human rights violations – Daily Mirror

The UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations during the Sri Lanka civil war, including extrajudicial killings, torture and/or perpetration of sexual violence. The individuals sanctioned by the UK today include former senior Sri Lankan military commanders, and a former LTTE military commander who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the Sri Lankan military against the LTTE. Click here to read… [19]