VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 26th February, 2019

PAKISTAN

Pakistani airspace to remain closed till Thursday midnight

February 28, 2019

On Wednesday, the aviation authority had said that Pakistani airspace had been shut after the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media arm, acknowledged the closure of Pakistan's airspace due to the prevailing security situation. Later in the day, in a tweet which has since been deleted, the CAA had stated that commercial aviation had been partially restored, starting with Karachi's Jinnah International Airport of Karachi.Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

US, Taliban Had ‘Productive’ Meetings In Qatar: Tolo News

February 28, 2019

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who sat with Taliban members for the fifth time in Qatar since last September, says the meetings in the last three days with the group’s members in Doha were “productive”. When beginning the talks, Khalilzad said that this time he will be talking with a “more authoritative” delegation of the Taliban, pointing at the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban's deputy leader and head of the group's Qatar office. Click here to read... [3]

NEPAL

Seven people, including tourism minister, killed in a helicopter crash: Kathmandu Post

February 28, 2019

A private helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff on Wednesday in Taplejung, killing seven people on board, including Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari. This is the second chopper accident in recent years involving high-profile individuals in the eastern mountain district.Click here to read... [4]

CHINA

China, Russia, India to strengthen cooperation after foreign ministers' meeting: People's Daily

February 28, 2019

China, Russia and India on Wednesday agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation, firmly uphold multilateralism and jointly fight against terrorism. The agreement came as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held the 16th meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Russia and India in Wuzhen, eastern China's Zhejiang Province.Click here to read... [5]

Chinese state councilor meets Indian FM: Global Times

February 28, 2019

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Wuzhen of east China's Zhejiang Province. Swaraj is in Wuzhen to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Russia and India.Click here to read... [6]