Afghanistan
Advocates Call on Congress to Avert End of Afghan Special Visa Program (VOA)
Rubio bill aims to withhold UN funding for Afghanistan until assured it doesn’t funding terrorism (FOX News)
US military has completed additional review of deadly Kabul airport bombing (CNN)
At least 60 Afghans killed by weeks of intense snow, rain (Agence France-Presse)
Pakistan
IMF Team in Pakistan to Review Loan Program as New Funds Sought (Bloomberg)
IMF to hold crucial talks with Pakistan over release of final $1.1B tranche of $3B bailout (AP)
Pakistan to ask for new, longer-term bailout during IMF review (Reuters)
China Will Help Pakistan Overcome Foreign Debt Woes, Envoy Says (Bloomberg)
Pakistan’s X blockage puts new PM Sharif in hot seat over free speech (Nikkei Asia)
Pakistan’s New Cabinet Indicates Military’s Influence (The Diplomat)
India
Indian farmers protest in New Delhi demanding new legislation for minimum crop prices (AP)
New Delhi steps up security ahead of rally by protesting farmers (Reuters)
Government panel recommends India hold simultaneous state, national elections (Reuters)
Indians die fighting for Russia in Ukraine, leaving a trail of helplessness (Al Jazeera)
China Fumes as India’s Modi Visits Contested Border (Newsweek)
Obscure trust links India’s top businesses with Modi’s election war chest (Reuters)
Modi’s Election Campaign May Have Already Peaked (Bloomberg – opinion)
NSB
China deepens defense ties with Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal (Reuters)
UN seeking more than $850m for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (Al Jazeera)
EU maritime force says it is shadowing a Bangladesh-flagged ship seized by pirates off Somali coast (AP)
Nepal PM wins parliamentary vote of confidence, third in 14 months (Reuters)
From India to China, Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Displays His Hindu Diplomacy (The Diplomat)
Central Asia
Kazakhstan boosting freight rail links to Russia, China (EurasiaNet)
Kyrgyzstan: Parliament adopts contentious foreign agents law without debate (EurasiaNet)
Kyrgyzstan: President withdraws restrictive media law (EurasiaNet)
Jailed Kyrgyz Border-Deal Protesters Criticize Judge For Trial Delays (Radio Free Europe)
Tajikistan: Authorities struggling, and failing, to provide power to households (EurasiaNet)
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SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS