VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 16th April, 2018

PAKISTAN

Pakistan rejects Indian charge about envoy’s visit to Gurdwara: Dawn
April 16, 2018

A day after Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa called for a “comprehensive and meaningful dialogue” between India and Pakistan to resolve their disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir, the two countries accused each other of violating the 44-year-old protocol on visits by pilgrims. “It is ironic for the government of India to accuse Pakistan of violating the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, whereas it is the Indian government that has, in clear violation of the protocol, twice within this year denied visas to Pakistani pilgrims on occasions of Urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri and scuttled at least three visits of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims to religious shrines in Pakistan since June 2017,” said Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal in a statement on Sunday in response to the press statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India alleging that its high commissioner in Pakistan had been “prevented” from meeting Sikh pilgrims at Gurdwara Punja Sahib. Click here to read.... [2]

Iran eyes CPEC with growing interest after port visit: Dawn
April 14, 2018

Iran’s Minister for Roads and Urbanisation Abbas Akhoundi expressed keen interest in exploring avenues available under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The minister is leading a high level Iranian delegation which visited Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Friday. Akhoundi also showed interest in transshipment cargo handling. He said that Iran is keen to work with Pakistan for interconnection linkage between Karachi Port and Bandar Abbas as well as the development of tourism and facilitation of ‘zaireen’ (religious pilgrims). He further said there was ample space of 204,000 hectares available at Bandar Abbas for promoting transshipment cargo handling facility. KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar briefed the Iranian delegation about various projects. He said the port is currently working on the expansion programme under the 10-Year Karachi Port Improvement Plan. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

Clashes Ongoing Between Khost Residents, Pakistani Forces: Tolo News
April 15, 2018

Clashes between Khost residents and Pakistan military personnel broke out in Zazimaidan district along the Durand Line early Sunday morning. According to Khost’s provincial acting police chief, Abdul Hanan, the clash broke out close to the Pakistan border. He told TOLOnews one civilian has been killed and three others wounded. Hanan said initial reports from the area indicate two Pakistani soldiers were killed and two others were arrested. According to him clashes are underway in Nazoghar, Jandoghar and Khawono Ghondai areas along the Durand Line. TOLOnews journalist Abdulhaq Omeri said officials told him security forces are on the way to the area. This comes after a barrage of missiles were fired by Pakistan into Kunar province earlier this week. Click here to read.... [4]

NEPAL

Foreign Minister Gyawali leaves for China today: Kathmandu Post

Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali is leaving on a five-day official visit to China on Monday at the invitation of State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi. This is the first high-level visit to the north after formation of the KP Sharma Oli-led government in February. Besides presenting the priorities of the new government, Gyawali will discuss and review the state of Nepal-China relations with top Chinese leaders and officials in Beijing. He is likely to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and will interact with his counterpart, Wang, in Beijing. Minister Gyawali will discuss the political relations between Nepal and China, including high-level visits from both sides. He would try to assure the Chinese leadership of Nepal’s commitment to implementing the agreements reached with China in the past and to expediting projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to sources. There would be no agreements during Gyawali’s visit, said officials. Nepal has selected some projects to be considered under the BRI but no formal recommendation has been made. According to the Foreign Ministry, Minister Gyawali is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang on Wednesday. The Nepali delegation will return on April 21. Click here to read.... [5]

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh wants to buy solar power from India: Livemint
April 16, 2018

n what will give India’s energy diplomacy a boost, power-starved Bangladesh wants to buy at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from large solar parks being set up in Gujarat and Rajasthan, said a senior official in the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Fostering cross-border energy trade is an important part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s South Asia-focused neighbourhood-first policy, with India also pursuing long-term deals with Bangladesh companies for supplying domestic cooking gas and other petroleum products. “Here is an opportunity. Here I see electricity being generated from sunshine and there is darkness out there. So, it’s a question of taking this electricity from here to there,” said Bir Bikram Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, adviser (minister) to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for power, energy and mineral resources affairs. Click here to read.... [6]

MYANMAR

First Rohingya refugees repatriated to Myanmar despite UN safety fears: The Guardian
April 15, 2018

Myanmar says it has repatriated the first Rohingya refugees from among nearly 700,000 who fled a crackdown in the country last year despite warnings from the United Nations that it is not yet safe to return. Rights groups have criticised the announcement as a publicity stunt and Bangladesh has distanced itself, saying the repatriation was not part of the return process the two countries have been trying to start. The stateless Muslim minority have been massing in squalid refugee camps across the border in Bangladesh since the Myanmar army launched a brutal campaign against the community in northern Rakhine state in August. The Myanmar government announced late on Saturday that a family of refugees had become the first to be processed in newly built repatriation centres earlier that day. Click here to read.... [7]

CHINA

Revised rules set for evolving PLA: China Daily
April 16, 2018

President Xi Jinping has issued an order to publish a set of revised regulations governing the responsibilities and discipline of members of the People's Liberation Army. Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently ordered that the three revised regulations, which cover every aspect of military life, including administrative procedures, duties and formalities, as well as chains of command and discipline, will take effect on May 1, the CMC Training Management Department said in a statement. Click here to read.... [8]

Why China’s US trade stand-off is not a replay of Japan’s in the 1980s: South China Morning Post
April 16, 2018

At first glance, China’s trade frictions with the US seem to be of a piece with the confrontations Japan faced in the 1980s: a surging Asian economy becomes a threat to American dominance in world trade and the US retaliates by crying foul and demanding concessions. Click here to read.... [9]

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un hosts banquet for Chinese diplomat as ‘flower garden’ friendship blooms once more: South China Morning Post
April 15, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met visiting senior Chinese diplomat Song Tao, Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday, in a further sign of improving ties between Beijing and Pyongyang after Kim’s landmark visit to the Chinese capital last month. Click here to read.... [10]

North Korea and economic ties on agenda as Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers meet in Tokyo: South China Morning Post
April 15, 2018

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun a visit to Japan described as a major step forward in improving frosty relations, as Tokyo tries to stay involved in a flurry of international diplomacy over North Korea. Click here to read.... [11]