Focus Neighbourhood

The Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) designated Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist after China did not any further object to a fresh move by France, the United Kingdom and the United States to get him listed. A statement issued by the UN from New York headquarters said: “Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi was listed on 1 May 2019 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 (2017) as being associated with Al-Qaida for terrorist…

Bangladesh and Myanmar are going to sit in Naypyidaw to discuss the Rohingya repatriation issue as the current crisis steps into almost two years with “zero progress” on Myanmar side that can help Rohingyas return to their place of origin confidently, reports UNB. Bangladesh is expected to press for “expediting” the ongoing process to build confidence among Rohingyas during the fourth Bangladesh-Myanmar joint working group (JWG) meeting as the “lack of trust” remains one of the key issues,…

China will provide a grant of 1 billion yuan (225.39 billion kyats, or approximately US$148 million) for socioeconomic development projects under an economic and technical cooperation agreement signed in Beijing last week. Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that the 1 billion yuan would be used to support socio-economic development, particularly projects to improve people’s livelihoods, feasibility studies for major projects and humanitarian assistance for IDPs in…

The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the Taliban's announcement of a spring offensive, saying the move will only "result in more unnecessary suffering and destruction for the Afghan people." The Taliban launched its annual spring offensive on April 12, even as the UN lifted travel bans on 11 of their senior leaders to facilitate peace talks with the United States, a media report said. US and Taliban negotiators have held several rounds of peace talks in Qatar and an Afghan…

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have finalised, documented and signed a bailout package on exchange rate, public finance, fiscal deficit and energy prices and an IMF mission will be visiting Islamabad in the third week of the current month to work out technical tables, said Finance Minister Asad Umar. “We have reached an agreement and all the major issues have been settled and documented,” Mr Umar told a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and…

The existing relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi is not going to be affected by the outcome of the ongoing national elections in India, top serving and former diplomats have told Dhaka Tribune.
Since the present Bangladesh government has experience of dealing with both Congress Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments, it will find it quite “easy” to maintain the strong relationship with the neighbouring country, they said. Everything is expected to continue as usual,…

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday that Pakistan and China's "strong friendship is based on strategic cooperation," Radio Pakistan reported.He was speaking at China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS) in Beijing after arriving there for a three-day trip to attend the first Pakistan-China foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue. Qureshi said that the start of the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will initiate a new era of socio-economic…

The Indian government has made the decision to award Maldives up to MVR 100 million in grant assistance for socio-economic development projects.
The decision was announced during the two-day visit by Minister of External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj, to Maldives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives reports the MVR 100 million financial aid facility will be utilized for socio-economic development projects run by State offices and institutions. Swaraj, during her visit, also…

The first shipment from landlocked Afghanistan through the Iranian Chabahar port has arrived in India, marking a new beginning of trade ties between the two countries, bypassing Pakistan. The cargo arrived at the Mumbai and Mundra port under the TIR ("Transports Internationaux Routiers") Convention that enables shipments to pass through countries without being opened at borders.To read…