Asia

Pakistan Anti-French Protests – Is Pakistan on the way to become a Talibani state?
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Pakistan Anti-French Protests – Is Pakistan on the way to become a Talibani state?

Recently, strong anti-French sentiments are growing in Pakistan ever since French President Emmanuel Macron defended the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and pledged to fight “Islamist separatism”. Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi with his supporters took to the streets to launch violent protests with an aim to force the Imran Khan-led government to expel the French ambassador and ban French products in the country.  However the government banned Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) on Thursday following three days of violent protests. The TLP supporters clashed with the law enforcement agencies in several towns and cities earlier this week, leaving seven persons dead and over 300 policemen injured. The TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested...
$400 Billion Iran-China Treaty and US Troop withdrawal from Afghanistan – How worried should India be?
Analysis, Asia, Big Block of 4, Featured

$400 Billion Iran-China Treaty and US Troop withdrawal from Afghanistan – How worried should India be?

Iran has signed a 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China worth $400 Billion with investments in various sectors For the first time in history, China which was moving towards the East is turning to South Asia and the Middle East and trying to play a role in the Indian Ocean region.China's interest in Iran was bolstered by decades of Anti-American sentiments there. China's aim would also be to contain India's presence in the Middle-East and cut its influence and relations with Iran.A destabilized Afghanistan can have its effect on India as they can support terror organizations in Kashmir and aid forces who can indulge in hijacking, kidnapping, drugs trade and other anti-national activities.For India the happenings in the Middle East, one in Iran and ot...
Watch: Former US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard speaks on the persecution of Hindu & religious minorities in Bangladesh
Asia, Featured

Watch: Former US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard speaks on the persecution of Hindu & religious minorities in Bangladesh

Former US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has spoken on the persecution of Hindu & religious minorities in Bangladesh. In a video message shared on Twitter on April 2, Tulsi Gabbard also condemned the genocide of Bengali Hindus by the Pakistani Army and called upon the world to work against Islamist extremism. In her video message which has since gone viral, she also appealed to the world leaders to come together to defeat the Islamist who are at the root of such incidents. “As a member of Congress, I introduced a resolution that called for the protection of Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh. People who continue to be targeted and persecuted to this day. The height of this persecution actually began 50 years ago, when the Pakistani army systematically murdered, raped...
As 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting gets underway, here is a brief overview of the sub-regional group
Analysis, Asia, Featured

As 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting gets underway, here is a brief overview of the sub-regional group

Headquartered in Dhaka, BIMSTEC is an inter-regional grouping that seeks to foster regional and economic cooperation among nations in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal — India, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. This sub-regional group came into being on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. Initially, the bloc was formed with four countries with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation). With the entrance of Myanmar in 1997, the grouping was renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).Finally, with the entrance of Nepal and Bhutan at the 6th Ministerial Meeting in 2004, the grouping was named Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Te...
India to fund for restoration of cultural heritage sites and construction of roads in Nepal
Asia

India to fund for restoration of cultural heritage sites and construction of roads in Nepal

India will fund NRs 230 million for restoration and reconstruction of three Cultural Heritage projects in Sindhupalchowk. Three contract agreements for reconstruction and restoration of the Government of India- funded Cultural Heritage projects were signed by National Reconstruction Authority and contractors on March 30 in Kathmandu. Informing the media about the restoration project, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said that the three cultural heritage projects include Chiri Ghyang Gumba, Tarkey Ghyang Gumba and Melamchi Ghyang Gumba of Sindhupalchowk. The signing event was witnessed by former state minister of Finance Larkel Lama, member of Provincial Assembly Nima Lama, Second Secretary of Development Partnership and Reconstruction Wing of the Indian Embassy, Project Director of ...
Stable, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan is the basis for peace and progress in the region – EAM Dr Jaishankar at ‘Heart of Asia’ Ministerial Conference
Asia, Featured, National

Stable, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan is the basis for peace and progress in the region – EAM Dr Jaishankar at ‘Heart of Asia’ Ministerial Conference

Key Points: For a durable peace in Afghanistan, what we need is a genuine ‘double peace’, that is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan. It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country.If the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards reaching a political solution.Today, we are striving for a more inclusive Afghanistan that can overcome decades of conflict. But that will happen only if we stay true to principles that Heart of Asia has long embodied. Collective success may not be easy but the alternative is only collective failure. Speaking at the 9th ‘Heart of Asia’ Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, India's E...
Boycott of Western Clothing Brands in China – All you need to know
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Boycott of Western Clothing Brands in China – All you need to know

Chinese social media is abuzz with calls for boycott and cancellation of licenses of western sports and clothing brands like Adidas, H&M, Nike, Burberry and many others. The calls for boycott of the brands has resulted in an economic and diplomatic fallout. Western clothing brands have lost celebrity endorsement along with customers in China. Here is a ready-reckoner on the entire saga. Why the call for boycott? The issue is about human rights in the Xinjiang region and allegations of forced labor in the cotton industry. All the allegations have been denied by the Chinese government. Last summer, many Western brands issued statements expressing concerns about human rights in their supply chain. Some even cut ties with the region all together. Recently, after the US, Eurpe...
Pollution forces Nepal govt to shut schools and colleges for four days
Asia, Featured

Pollution forces Nepal govt to shut schools and colleges for four days

In a concerning development, pollution has forced the Nepal Government to shut all educational institutions for four days starting Tuesday.  The decision is said to be due to the severe deterioration of air quality in recent days. This is the first-ever shutdown of the country's schools and colleges due to pollution. As per news reports, The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal took the decision on Monday stating that the increasing levels of air pollution could adversely affect the children's health.   Kathmandu is currently ranked among the most polluted cities in the world, with the air quality index (AQI) readings well above 300, the highest level of concern, during the weekend. Smoke and haze continue to cover Kathmandu Valley and other hill regi...
Sri Lanka enters into a currency swap agreement with China worth US$ 1.5 billion; Citizens express fear of SL being debt-trapped by China
Asia, Featured, World

Sri Lanka enters into a currency swap agreement with China worth US$ 1.5 billion; Citizens express fear of SL being debt-trapped by China

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) have entered into a bilateral currency swap agreement worth US$ 1.5 billion. CBSL says that the agreement was finalised in order to promote bilateral trade and direct investment for economic development of the two countries, and to be used for other purposes agreed upon by both parties. China remains Sri Lanka’s largest source of imports. In 2020, imports from China amounted to US$ 3.6 billion which is about 22.3% of Sri Lanka’s total imports. This Swap agreement has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka with the recommendation of the Monetary Board of CBSL. Governors of the two Central Banks, Deshamanya Professor W D Lakshman of CBSL and Dr. Yi Gang, Governor of PBOC, are the signatorie...
Stone from Sita Eliya in Sri Lanka to be used in the construction of Ayodhya Ram Temple
Asia, National

Stone from Sita Eliya in Sri Lanka to be used in the construction of Ayodhya Ram Temple

 Sitha Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya A stone from Sita Eliya, the place in Sri Lanka where Sita is believed to have been held captive by Ravana, will be used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The information was shared by the High Commission of India in Colombo. This stone was received at Mayurapathi Amman Temple by High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda in presence of the High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay. High Commissioner Baglay attended the consecration of the stone in Colombo on March 18. "A stone from Sita Eliya in #SriLanka for the Ram Temple in #Ayodhya will be a pillar of strength for #India-#SriLanka ties", High Commission of India tweeted. It will celebrate multifarious commonalities between the countries and also encour...