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Country Reports
Afghanistan
ISIS fighters down
U.S. military spokesman Brig-Gen Charles Cleveland has said that the number of ISIS fighters in Afghanistan have come down to 700 after US air-strikes. Over a year ago, the number was estimated to be 2000-3000. Cleveland praised the Afghan forces, saying that they had killed 12 of the top leaders of the terrorist group in 2016.
For more information, see: “US Military: Number of IS members in Afghanistan reduced to 700”, VOA
Pakistan reopens border
Pakistan has temporarily re-opened the two border crossings, Torkham and Chaman, with Afghanistan, allowing visitors with valid visas to cross over. The border was closed on 16 February after a series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan that were attributed to Afghanistan-based groups. The borders were reopened for those travelling for business, medical and work purposes. A Pakistani official at Torkham said large numbers of Afghans were returning home, alongside smaller groups of Pakistanis, but that overland trade between the two countries was yet to resume.
For more information, see: “Pakistan temporarily reopens border with Afghanistan”, Al Jazeera
Karzai says will not accept Durand Line
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated that Afghanistan does not and will not recognise the Durand Line as the border with Pakistan. In a post on Twitter, Karzai said, “The Govt of Pakistan has no legal authority to dictate terms on the Durand Line. While we wish freedom for the people of #FATA from FCR and other repressive measures, we remind the Govt of #Pakistan that #Afghanistan hasn’t and will not recognize the #Durand line.”
For more information, see: “Afghanistan has not and will not recognize Durand Line: Karzai”, Khamma Press
Bangladesh
BNP to boycott national elections if held under Hasina again
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has said that his party will not participate in the next general elections if it is held under Bangladesh Awami League (AL) leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Roy said BNP would much rather wait until doomsday for a party-neutral administration. The BNP did not participate in the last parliamentary election held in 2014.
For more information see: “BNP won’t join polls under Hasina: Gayeshwar”, Prothom Alo
Dhaka sees IORA as a vehicle to boost maritime cooperation
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali claimed that his country sees the action plan of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a new avenue to make the organisation a vehicle to boost maritime cooperation in the region. He made the remarks while addressing the Council of Ministers (COM) of the IORA in Jakarta, Indonesia.
For more information see “Dhaka eyes IORA action to boost maritime cooperation”, The Financial Express
India
BJP gets two-third majority in UP
The BJP ruling the Centre has won a resounding, two-thirds majority in the prestigious 403-seat Assembly in the nation’s largest State of Uttar Pradesh. After the results were known, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a “new India” is emerging and it stands for development. He also asked the people to take a pledge and express their commitment to building a new India.
For more information, see: “Day after UP win, Modi says new India is emerging”The Hindu, 12 March, 2017; BJP’s election strategy: 900 rallies, 67,000 workers, 10,000 WhatsApp groups and chopper landings, Indian Express, March 12, 2017; Prannoy Roy Explains Major Takeaways From Huge PM Narendra Modi Win, NDTV
Congress takes Punjab
Captain Amarinder Singh will take the oath for chief minister of the border State of Punjab on March 16 after the party won a whopping 77 seats in an assembly of 117. The AAP came a distant second with 22 seat. The incumbent ruling-kali Dal, BJP alliance got 18 seats.
For more information see: “Amarinder Singh to take oath for CM of Punjab on March 16, promises ‘no vendetta politics’”,Times of India, March 12 2017; Punjab Election Results 2017: AAP One Of The ‘Toughest Competitors,’ Says Prashant Kishor, NDTV, March 11, 2017; Assembly Elections Result 2017: AAP Ka Kya Hoga? Second In Punjab, Zero In Goa,NDTV,
Hung Assembly in Manipur
The National People’s Party (NPP), a regional party founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma will get to play king maker after the Congress and the BJP failed to get a majority in the Manipur assembly elections.
For more information see: “In Manipur, Small Parties Hold The Key To Government Formation”,NDTV, March 12 2017; “BJP will have numbers to form govt in Manipur: Ram Madhav”, Times of India
Parrikar for Goa?
In a bid to bring up a majority in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly, BJP has decided to send the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was the CM before moving over to Delhi, to Panaji.
For more information, see: “Goa BJP wants Parrikar as CM”, The Hindu
Loan-waiver costs 8,000 crore
The incoming BJP government’s promise to waive loans of small and marginal farmers in Uttar Pradesh looks impressive on paper and could go a long way in reducing farm indebtedness. However, experts feel a waiver of crop loans can have a negative impact on credit quality in farming.
For more information see: “Poll promises: Crop loan waiver to cost Rs 8,000 crore”,Business Standard
Maldives
No-trust move
In a first of its kind, the Opposition MDP and the Gayoom faction of the ruling PPM have formally joined hands to move a no-trust motion against Parliament Speaker, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, requiring a simple majority in the 85-member House. A victory for the motion could encourage detractors of President Abdulla Yameen to consider an impeachment motion, which however requires a two-thirds majority.
For more information, see: “No-confidence motion filed to remove Speaker Maseeh”,Maldives Independent, 8 March 2017; “MP Areef loses MDA membership”, SunOnline, 9 March 2017; “Amir: No party in Maldives that can win Presidency without MDA”, SunOnline
Saudis ‘not buying land’
In the aftermath of Government’s efforts to attract a high $ 10-billion Saudi investment to develop Faafu Atoll, both sides have denied that it involved the sale of Maldivian land. Earlier, the Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had announced a protest demonstration on 24 March as a part of their national/international campaign to stall the ‘sale’ of Maldivian territory.
For more information, see: “Saudi: Rumors are false, no intention to buy land in Maldives”, SunOnline, 10 March 2017; “No intention of purchasing an atoll from Maldives : Saudi Embassy”, Miadhu, 10 March 2017; “Government denies ‘selling off’ atoll to Saudi Arabia”, Maldives Independent, 8 March 2017; “Will not lease islands like a gamble – will be leased after ensuring that it will be invested in : Muhammad Saeed”, Miadhu, 10 March 2017; “Opposition announces protest against Faafu deal as police crackdown intensifies”,Maldives Independent
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