VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 18th July, 2018

PAKISTAN
Shahbaz will be PM if PML-N wins elections, says Abbasi: Dawn

July 18, 2018

Shahbaz Sharif will be the next prime minister in the event the party wins the elections though the final decision will still be made with consensus in the party after election results are announced, former prime minister and PML-N candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Tuesday. Talking to Dawn, the former premier ruled out a split in the party at the top level and said the leaders are agreed on acting on the Constitution in letter and spirit. He claimed the case against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and retired Capt Safdar was conducted in an unprecedented and discriminatory manner. When asked about Chaudhry Nisar, Mr Abbasi said the former interior minister was not given a party ticket because he had not applied for one. He said everyone in the party, including Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, had applied for tickets.Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN
Govt Rejects Possibility Of Talks Between US And Taliban: Tolo News

July 18, 2018

Afghan officials on Tuesday rejected reports about the possibility of direct peace talks between the US and the Taliban, and maintained any negotiations would be an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process. “The peace negotiations will only be held under the leadership and ownership of the Afghan government, but the United States of America can have a facilitator role in this regard,” said the CEO’s deputy spokesman Omid Maisam. Meanwhile Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the reconciled leader of Hizb-e-Islami group, on Tuesday said that US officials consulted him about the prospects of holding talks with the Taliban to end the 17-year-long war. Hekmatyar said: “I told them (Americans) that my suggestion to the Taliban was to enter into inter-Afghan dialogue, because it is good for the dignity of the people and it also helps to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan. But if they (Taliban) want to meet you (Americans), I don’t see any problem with it and you (Americans) can jump-start the negotiations,” said Hekmatyar. Hekmatyar also said he told US officials to tell the Taliban to hold talks with the Afghan government as it was important for the Taliban’s dignity and also a step forward towards resolving the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.Click here to read.... [3]

MYANMAR
Rohingya want to return to Myanmar as citizens: UN: Daily Star

Myanmar's Rohingya refugees have told a UN envoy who visited their camp in Bangladesh this week that they will return home if it is safe and if they are granted citizenship rights, a UN statement said Tuesday. UN envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, met the Muslim Rohingya in Cox's Bazar during a three-day visit to Bangladesh from July 14 to 16, just weeks after holding talks with Myanmar's leaders on the refugee crisis. The envoy "heard from the people accounts of unimaginable atrocities committed in Rakhine State," said a UN statement. "Despite these serious violations of human rights, they expressed to the envoy their hope to return home if security could be guaranteed and citizenship could be provided," it added. More than 700,000 ethnic Rohingya have fled an offensive by Myanmar troops launched nearly a year ago in reprisal for attacks on border posts by Rohingya rebels.Click here to read.... [4]

CHINA
China issues white paper on ecological progress on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: China Daily

July 18, 2018

China issued a white paper about ecological progress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is a key eco-safety barrier in China and Asia, and a focus of the country's drive to promote ecological progress. "The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have taken ecological conservation as a top priority, and regard protection of the Plateau as a vital task for China's survival and development," said the white paper published by the State Council Information Office, titled "Ecological Progress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." " target="">Click here to read.... [5]

China refutes US accusations of violating WTO rules: People’s Daily

July 18, 2018

China on Tuesday refuted U.S. accusations that it has violated WTO rules, saying it would continue to abide by them, and calling on the United States to respect and obey WTO rules. "China has always fulfilled its obligations, kept its promises and made significant contributions to the world economy by paying great efforts and costs since it joined the WTO 17 years ago," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a routine press briefing. http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0718/c90000-9481936.html" target="">Click here to read.... [6]

China welcomes US-Russia Summit: People’s Daily

July 18, 2018

China said on Tuesday it is glad to see Moscow and Washington improve their relations, a comment that came as US President Donald Trump triggered a tsunami of criticism at home for his "weak" and "treasonous" performance at a news conference on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "China hopes the two countries will strengthen communication and dialogue and expand their cooperation, which will benefit world peace and development as well as unite the international community to jointly tackle common challenges," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in Beijing.Click here to read.... [7]