Country Reports
Afghanistan
20 killed in suicide-attack
A suicide-bomb blast on 7 February outside the Supreme Court in capital Kabul killed over 20 persons and injured 35 others. A day later the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter. The attack comes a month after 36 people were killed in a suicide attack near Parliament, also in Kabul. Elsewhere in the country, six employees of the International Red Cross were killed and two others missing following an IS attack.
For more information, see: “20 dead in suicide blast outside Afghan Supreme Court in Kabul”, CNN, 8 February 2017; “Militants kill 6 Red Cross Workers in Afghanistan”, The New York Times, 8 February 2017; “Afghanistan: ICRC halts operations after workers killed”, Al Jazeera
US needs more troops to train Afghan forces
In his address to Congress on 9 February, Gel John W. Nicholson, the commander of US-led international military force in Afghanistan, stated there is a need for few additional thousand troops to train and advise Afghan forces. Warning members of Congress that the US and its NATO allies were facing a stalemate in the country, he said, “It’s very difficult to succeed on the battlefield when your enemy enjoys external support and safe haven,” referring explicitly to Pakistan. He also added that it was important for the US to do a “holistic review” of its policy towards Islamabad, given the success of the Taliban on the battlefield. Referring to Russia, the commander said that it was working to undermine the US and NATO in the country.
For more information, see: “US General seeks ‘a few thousand’ more troops in Afghanistan”, The New York Times
Bangladesh
Country’s first woman poll chief
History was created this week with the appointment of Kabita Khanom as the country’s first female election commissioner. The appointment of Khanom arrested speculation about the future of election commission but it is not free of controversy. Opposition BNP questioned the procedure of selection and claimed that the re-constitution of election commission was a drama.
For more information see:
“Bangladesh gets first female election commissioner”, Dhaka Tribune, 8 February 2017; “EC reformation process still mired in criticism”, Dhaka Tribune
UN moved on Rohingyas
The government this week sought financial support from the United Nations and other international partners for relocating tens of thousands of Rohingyas, who had fled from Myanmar to avoid persecution. The government is planning to relocate Ronhingyas to Thengar Char in Hatiya in the Bay of Bengal. The diplomatic community is sceptic about the government’s move.
For more information see:
“Rohingya Relocation: Dhaka seeks help; diplomats sceptic”, The Daily Star
Bhutan
FM denies graft
Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji said that while he might have made an oversight he does not accept the allegations of bribery alleged in an anonymous letter to ACC. The ACC is investigating the minister in his former capacity as a Drangpon in Mongar for giving a 10 year sentence instead of a 15 year life sentence for Chorten vandalism.
For more information, see:
“Foreign Minister admits to oversight but denies corruption”, The Bhutanese, 4 February 2017; “My Conscience is clear: Foreign Minister DamchoDorji”, Kuensel
Road work behind schedule
The South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) project worth Nu 294.14 million to improve the Pasakha bypass road in Phuentsholing will miss its deadline of August 2017. The contracting firm, M/s Gaseb Construction, was recently terminated for failing to complete targeted works.
For more information, see:
“SASEC project in Paskha to miss deadline”, Kunesel
Gyalsey’s birthday fete
The Office of the Gyaltshab is organising a carnival fair for the six eastern dzongkhags in Gyalpoizhing, Mongar from February 5-9 to commemorate the first birthday of His Royal Highness the Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck.
For more information, see:
“Six-day carnival fair begins in Gyalpoizhing”, Kuensel
India
OPS quits, claims his resignation was forced
Tamil Nadu’s politics took a dramatic turn with outgoing Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam announcing that he was compelled to resign from his post and humiliated while holding the high office. Following this V.K. Sasikala dismissed him from the post of party treasurer and appointed Dindigul Srinivasan in his place.
For more information, see: “OPS revolts, says he was forced to quit”The Hindu
Tax revenue up
The Centre’s revenue collection from indirect tax grew by 23.9 percent during the April-January period, while that from direct tax rose by 10.79 percent. Total direct and indirect tax collections at the end of January stood at Rs 12.85 lakh crore, 76 percent of the Rs 16.99-lakh crore target.
For more information, see: The Business Standard
India-US defence ties up
India and the US have agreed to "sustain and take forward" the momentum of their expansive bilateral defence relationship”, which is the keystone of their overall strategic partnership, in talks between defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his counterpart General James Norman Mattis on Wednesday evening.
For more information,see: “Under Donald Trump, India-US defence ties get off to a strong start, ”Times of India
Maldives
Nasheed plans to ‘contest’ the next presidential elections
Self-exiled former President Mohammed Nasheed has expressed his decision to contest his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primaries for the 2018 presidential polls in the country, though he is otherwise barred by law from doing so. In Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he travelled from the UK, which has granted him political asylum, Nasheed also oversaw the conduct of the MDP internal elections for a new party chairperson back home, even as President Abdulla Yameen pooh-poohed his claims, at a function organised by his party, to mark the conclusion of his third year in office.
For more information, see: “Exiled Maldives leader Nasheed sets sights on 2018 polls”, The Hindu, 10 February 2017; “Nasheed to contest Maldives Presidential Election in 2018”, Daily Mirror Online, 10 February 2017; “Yameen dismisses Nasheed’s presidential ambitions as futile”, Maldives Independent, 9 February 2017; “MDP elects Hassan Latheef as new chairperson”, Maldives Independent, 12 February 2017; “11,000 new members join PPM”’ SunOnline, 12 February 2017; “No corruption in use of state resources for rally marking Yameen’s third year in office”, Maldives Independent
MNDF trains with US
Independent of increasing engagement with China on the investment front, Maldives has launched an emergency medical training programme for its armed forces with the US Pacific Command. The training for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) took place in the southern Addu Atoll, which houses the nation’s only Air Force base, Gan, even as the authorities elsewhere stopped a fourth Maldivian seeking to go to Syria to fight on the side of the IS.
For more information, see: “U.S. Pacific Command Partners with the MNDF to Provide Life-Saving Emergency Medical Training”, Miadhu, 9 February 2017; “Fourth Maldivian man ‘on his way to join Syrian civil war’ arrested”, Maldives Independent, 8 February 2017; “The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka pays a Courtesy Call on the President”, Miadhu
Myanmar
Suu Kyi meets Army chief
State Counselor DawAung San SuuKyi and Snr-Gen Min AungHlaing held a unpublicized meeting in Naypyidaw on February 4. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides.
For more information, see:
“The Unpublicized Summit in Naypyitaw”, The Irrawaddy
Gearing for by-polls
Trying to capitalise on rising nationalist sentiments globally and promising “real change” in a thinly veiled shot at the ruling National League for Democracy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party made its case to voters in a broadcast on Tuesday evening, less than two months out from a 1 April by-election.
For more information, see:
“USDP adopts ruling party mantra, with a twist, in by-election manifesto”, DVB
Malaysian aid arrives
A Malaysian ship carrying food supplies and other humanitarian aid destined for Rakhine State was met by both supporters and opponents on February 9 when it docked just southeast of Rangoon.
For more information, see:
“Malaysian aid flotilla for Arakan State docks in Rangoon”, DVB, 10 February 2017;”Malaysian Shipment of Maungdaw Aid Greeted by Protest in Rangoon”, The Irrawaddy
Nepal
Local polls in May
Meeting held between CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal on February 10 brought about a lot of issues into fore. During the meeting, PM Dahal, urged Oli not to cast doubts over the timely local elections which will be held according to scheduled time. The two leaders also discussed to unveil budget for the fiscal year 2017-2018, bring in government’s policy and programme and hold local elections by mid-May.
For more information see:
”UML Chair Oli holds talks with PM Dahal”, The Kathmandu Post, 10 February 2017; “PM, Oli discuss ways to end deadlock”, Republica
Flight to Kuala Lumpur
Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture airline, launched its first direct flight from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur on February 10. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTA) JeevanBahadurShahi, inaugurated the airline's maiden flight to the Malaysian capital amidst a special ceremony held at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) this morning. Himalaya Airlines flagged off its Airbus 320 with 100% seat factor to Kuala Lumpur, making it the airline's 3rd destination after Doha and Colombo.
For more information, see: “Himalaya Airlines begins Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur flight”, The Himalayan Times
Imports, deficit up
According to a statistics released by the Trade and Exports Promotion Centre in the Capital on February 9, the trade deficit has reached as high as Rs 429.73 billion in the review period. The export and import ratio of the trade is 7.2 per cent and 92.8 per cent in the first six month of the current fiscal year. The entire export of the country is limited to Rs 36.3 billion while import is Rs 466 billion.
For more information, see: “Trade deficit increases by 71 per cent”, The Kathmandu Post, 9 February 2017; “PM inaugurates Khimti-Dhalkebar transmission line”, Republica
Pakistan
Pakistan says India is building ‘nuclear city’
Pakistan’s spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that India has built a ‘covert nuclear city’. On 9 February. Nafees Zakaria, stated that a huge cache of atomic weapons was being stored in a ‘covert nuclear city’ in South India and inter-continental missiles were also being manufactured, voicing Pakistan’s reservations against the matter. The spokesperson said that the India’s ‘secret nuclear city’ threatened to undermine the strategic balance of power in the region and asked the international community to take note of India’s ‘actions’.
For more information, see: “India has built ‘covert nuclear city’: foreign ministry”, Dunya News
Naval exercise in Karachi
Pakistan kicked off its ‘Aman-17’ naval exercise in Karachi on 10 February which includes the navies of over 37 countries, including Australia, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States, Japan and Russia. Vice Admiral ArifullahHussaini, the commander of the Pakistani fleet, inaugurated the event, which has been taking place every alternate year since 2007. At the inauguration, Hussaini said that, the exercise would help work against human trafficking, narcotic smuggling and terrorism.
For more information, see: “’Aman-17’ naval exercise kicks off in Karachi”, Dawn
Afghan diplomat killed by security guard
An Afghan diplomat was shot dead by a security guard inside the Afghan consulate in Karachi on 9 February. The diplomat, Muhammad Zaki Abdu, was the third secretary in the consulate was killed by the Afghan guard because of a personal dispute between the two. The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, confirmed that the diplomat and the guard had a history of animosity which led to the fatal shooting. The guard has since been arrested.
For more information, see: “Afghan diplomat shot dead at consulate in Karachi, Pakistan”, Reuters
Sri Lanka
China asks India to stay off Sri Lanka
China is purported to have told Sri Lanka’s neighbour India to stay away from its ‘Indian Ocean colony’, just as it had told off the US viz the South China Sea issues. In a separate development, Namal Rajapaksa, the parliamentarian-son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that India had misread ‘our ties with China’.
For more information, see: “China tells India to stay off its Indian Ocean colony, Sri Lanka: Report”, Daily Mirror Online, 12 February 2017; “India misread our ties with China: Namal Rajapaksa”, The Hindu, 9 February 2017; “Chinese Embassy says did not contact CBK”, Daily Mirror Online
TPC still for international probe
Ahead of the bi-annual March session of the UNHRC, which is to discuss the Sri Lankan ‘war-crimes issue’, the Tamil People’s Council (TPC) under Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran has reiterated the demand for an independent, international probe into the same. This, even as Ministers in the Central Government, send out different signals on the new Constitution for the nation, in matters of form, content and procedure, with impact on the nation’s unending ethnic row.
For more information, see: “TPC wants Int'l probe on war crimes allegations”, Daily Mirror Online, 10 February 2017; “Threat to Sumanthiran: A game plan to retain army: CV”, Daily Mirror Online, 7 February 2017; “Govt says federal solution a fabrication of opposition”, The Island, 6 February 2017; “Wiggy’s hybrid court is a dream that will not materialise: Samarasinghe”, Daily Miror Online, 5 February 2017; “New Constitution: Govt. intends going in for referendum”, Daily Mirror Online, 9 February 2017; “New Constitution most potent weapon for non-recurrence of war: Mangala”, Daily Mirror Online, 9 February 2017; “Karuna forms ‘Tamil United Freedom Party’”, Daily Mirror Online
Primary Documentation
Bhutan
Press Releases
Launch of 15 Mobile Apps, Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, 9 February 2017
Myanmar
Press Releases
Myanmar-China (2+2) high-level consultations held, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 February 2017
Nepal
Press Releases
“Press Release on participation of Embassy of Nepal Brussels, Belgium in the Brussels Holiday Fair”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal, 6 February 2017
“Press Release on BIMSTEC SOM and its preceding meetings to be held in Kathmandu from 5 Feb”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal, 4 February 2017
“Press Release issued by Embassy of Nepal to the EU concerning the handing over of the original Instrument of Accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention)”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal, 3 February 2017
Bibliography
Afghanistan
Opinion pieces
David Moradian, “The mistakes Trump should not repeat in Afghanistan”, Al Jazeera, 7 February 2017
Bangladesh
Opinion Pieces
Afsan Chowdhury, “EC: Obituary for the past, lessons for the next”, Bdnews24.com, 9 February 2017
Rabiul H. Zaki, “Asian LNG market and Bangladesh”, Bdnews24.com, 7 February 2017
William Milam, “Bl oggers beware”, Dhaka Tribune, 6 February 2017
India
Opinion Pieces
Yogesh Joshi, “Chinese regional hegemony is a bridge too far”, ORF, 08 February 2017
Oommen C. Kurian, “Poor health access and ongoing ‘caesarean epidemic’”, ORF, 10 February 2017
Christophe Jaffrelot, “Looking After Leaping”, Indian Express, 10 February, 2017
Maldives
Opinion Pieces
Zaheena Rasheed, “With Yameen’s re-election bid in full swing, PPM appears stronger than ever”, Maldives Independent, 12 February 2017
Myanmar
Opinion Pieces
Veronica Collins, “Burma must heal past wounds to heal”, The Irrawaddy, 8 February 2017
Nepal
Opinion Pieces
Shail Suman Silwal, “Down and out”, The Kathmandu Post, 10 February 2017
Jim O’Neill “Global economy’s surprising resilience”, Republica, 8 February 2017
Editorials
The Kathmandu Post, “A welcome proposal”, The Kathmandu Post, 10 February 2017
Republica, “Let me talk”, Republica, 9 February 2017
Pakistan
Opinion Pieces
Jawed Naqvi, “India, Pakistan in race to destroy young minds”, Dawn, 10 February 2017
Suba Chandran, “An eyewash or a turning point?”,The Hindu, 10 February 2017
Mohammad Hanif, “The Disappeared, Pakistan”, The New York Times, 6 February 2017
Sri Lanka
Opinion Pieces
Malinda Seneviratne, “Wigneswaran and puppeteering with ghosts”, Daily Mirror Online, 9 February 2017
Kelum Bandara, “Cabinet reshuffle delayed”, Daily Mirror Online, 9 February 2017
N Sathiya Moorthy, “Targeting the TNA, testing the nation”, The Sunday Leader, 5 February 2017
Interviews
Sanduna Jayasekara, “Absence of self-critical assessment despite 20 years in power left the SLFP in predicament”, Interview with D E W Gunasekara, ex-Minister, Daily Mirror Online, 8 February 2017
Contributors:
Afghanistan & Pakistan: Kriti M. Shah
Bangladesh: Dr Joyeeta Bhattacharjee
Bhutan & Myanmar: Mihir Bhonsale
India : Subh Soni & Pushan Das
Maldives & Sri Lanka: N. Sathiya Moorthy
Nepal: Sreeparna Banerjee
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
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