VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: June 17, 2019

PAKISTAN

Faiz made ISI chief in military shake-up: Dawn
June 17, 2019

In a surprise reshuffle, the Pakistan Army on Sunday announced that Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had been appointed the director general of premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Gen Hameed replaces Lt Gen Asim Munir, who had been posted as the spymaster in October. Gen Munir’s eight-month stint as the ISI chief was probably one of the shortest among those who had served this office. Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Delegation In Beijing Ahead Of Doha Talks: Report: Tolo News
June 17, 2019

A Taliban delegation is visiting Beijing to hold talks with Chinese officials as part of a peace process ahead of their seventh round of talks with the US in Qatar, a former Taliban spokesman said as quoted by Arab News. In April this year, US, China and Russia pressed the Taliban to hold talks with Afghan politicians and civilians, as an important step to end the 17-year conflict. Abdul Hai Mutmayen, who has served as Taliban chief spokesman in Kandahar, told Arab News that the Taliban political office head, Abdul Ghani Baradar was leading the delegation in talks with Chinese officials. “The Taliban delegation led by head of the Qatar office and deputy chief on political affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar is in Beijing,” Mutmayen said. Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL

Delay in deciding names and capitals of four provinces raises concerns over federalism implementation: Kathmandu Post
June 17, 2019

On September 20, 2015, Nepal adopted a new constitution, federating the country into seven provinces with three tiers of government--federal, provincial and local. Two years later, a federal parliament and seven provincial assemblies were elected. As per the constitutional provisions, provincial assemblies have the right to decide the names of the provinces and their capitals. Each provincial assembly has to endorse the name of the province and its capital with a two-thirds majority. It has been more than a year and a half since the provincial assemblies were elected, but four of the seven provinces still don’t have their names and permanent capitals. This, experts on constitutional and federal affairs say, is due to a lack of seriousness in provincial governments. Click here to read.... [4]

CHINA

Xi's Central Asia trip cements neighborhood friendship, regional cooperation: People’s Daily
June 17, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visits to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan opened a new chapter for building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.
During the five-day trip, Xi also attended the 19th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek and the fifth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Dushanbe. Click here to read.... [5]

Xi urges joint efforts to open up new prospects for Asian security, development: Xinhuanet
June 17, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday urged Asian countries and their partners to join hands in opening up new prospects for Asian security and development under new circumstances. Addressing the fifth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Tajikistan, Xi called on CICA members to build an Asia featuring mutual respect and trust, security and stability, development and prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, as well as cooperation and innovation. Click here to read.... [6]