Focus Neighbourhood

Sri Lanka-India joint naval exercise ends on successful note in Trincomalee
Colombo Page | 21^st October
The annual Sri Lanka Navy - Indian Navy bilateral naval exercise popularly known as ‘SLINEX’, held from 19th to 21st October 2020, came to a succes

Maldives, India sign credit line on Greater Male Connectivity Project
Maldives Times | 13^th October
India’s Export-Import Bank (EXIM), on behalf of the government of India, signed a USD 400 million credit line agreement with the Maldives to fund the G

India, Myanmar Agree Strategic Port Operation in Rakhine Next Year
The Irrawaddy | 6^th October
India and Myanmar agreed this week to move forward on a number of initiatives that are central to New Delhi’s efforts to counter China’s influence in Myanma

US Asks Iran to Join Afghan Peace Talks
Daily Outlook Afghanistan (Pajhwok) | 30^th September
The Trump administration has urged Iran to join the Afghan peace negotiations, says US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.
The Pakistani leadership had been sendi

Ceasefire Top ‘Priority’ for Afghans: Ghani
The Khaama Press | 24^th September
Speaking at the 75^th UN General Assembly through a video conference, President Ashraf Ghani said “Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire, adding an urg

MoFA to Form Trilateral Commission on Economic Cooperation with Iran and Turkmenistan
The Khaama Press | 17^th September
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a trilateral commission for economic cooperation will be established between Afghanistan, Iran

Spoilers Desperate to Disrupt Peace Process: U.S. Envoy Khalilzad
The Khaama Press | 10^th September

The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said “spoilers” are desperately trying to “disrupt” the ongo

Afghan, Taliban Prisoner Swap Ends: Deadlock to Intra-Afghan Talks
The Khaama Press | 3^rd September
The demand for exchanging prisoners between the Afghan government and Taliban are said to have met, according to sources, breaking the deadlock for int

Online business promotion event to enhance bilateral economic ties between India and Sri Lanka
Colombo Page | 25^th August

The High Commission of India facilitated an online business promotion event on 21 August 2020 aimed at boosting bilateral econo

Almost half of the Afghan population is in need of humanitarian aids
The Khaama Press | 20^th August

UN statistics in the initial months of 2020 showed that 12 million people in Afghanistan were in need of humanitarian aids.
World Food Program announ

Ghani forms a ‘women council’ in Palace to ’empower’ women
The Khaama Press | 13^th August
 
President Ghani ordered the establishment of a high council dedicated to women, ARG announced in a decree signed by the President.
The order to form a women h

Kabul Says It Had Been Told by US That Talks Would Begin with Release of 4,600 Taliban Prisoners
Daily Outlook Afghanistan | 3^rd August
 
Afghan government said that it had been told by the United States that peace talks with the Taliban would begin

Taliban Political Chief Warns US to Withdraw as Per Doha Agreement
Daily Outlook Afghanistan | 28^th July
 
The Taliban’s political chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, warned that the group “would make the necessary decisions” if the US failed to leave

Taliban Prisoners Convicted of War Crimes Shouldn’t be Released
Daily Outlook Afghanistan | 21^st July
 
Those 592 Taliban prisoners who are behind war crimes shouldn’t be released before the start of intra-Afghan peace talks, and a thorough investiga

Taliban accused of not taking steps toward peace
Afghanistan Times | 14^th July
 
The government accuses Taliban militants of not working hard for peace, saying their efforts are weak.
Sediq Sediqqi, President Ghani’s Spokesman says that Afghans and i

Some freed Taliban prisoners have returned to battlefield: Muslimyar
The Khaama Press | 7^th July
 
The Chairman of the Afghan Senate Fazal Hadi Muslimyar has said some of the freed Taliban prisoners have returned to battlefield.
Speaking during a gen

The US-Russia blame game: Afghan Diplomacy Needs to be Active
The Khaama Press | 2^nd July
 
US and Russia agreed on not accepting or supporting the restoration of the Taliban regime what is so-called “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, expressed in a j

Pakistan allowed Taliban and Haqqani Network to use its territory to target Afghanistan: US
The Khaama Press | 25^th June
 
Pakistan allowed the Taliban group and the notorious Haqqani terrorist network to use its terroritory in targeting Afghanistan

Kabul calls for immediate talks with Taliban
Afghanistan Times | 16^th June
 
The government calls on the Taliban to immediately join peace negotiations, while the insurgent group insists on the release of the remaining 2,000 prisoners of them in gove

India to deepen bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, support post COVID-19 economic recovery
Colombo Page | 27^th May
 
India is committed to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Sri Lanka in addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and in post-COVID e