Afghanistan
Son of British couple held by Taliban asks US for help (BBC)
Briton held by Taliban with wife describes dire conditions in Kabul jail (The Guardian)
Rifts growing in the Taliban over the ban on girls’ schooling (NBC News)
Afghan rights defender told she faces ‘no risk’ from Taliban as Home Office denies asylum (The Guardian)
Pakistan
For Afghan Refugees In Pakistan, A ‘Cruel’ Countdown Has Begun (Radio Free Europe)
‘No one to return to’: Afghans fear Pakistan deportation (Agence France-Presse)
India
Trump Calls India a Friend, but Is Trying to Block Its Imports (New York Times)
India Seeks US Trade Talks, Signaling No Retaliatory Tariffs (Bloomberg)
India unlikely to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs as deal talks progress, sources say (Reuters)
India sees no hit to projected growth from US tariffs, economists remain skeptical (Reuters)
How Tariffs Have Worked for Four Other Countries (Wall Street Journal)
YouTuber Is Arrested After Leaving Diet Coke on Isolated Tribe’s Island (New York Times)
YouTuber arrested after trying to contact remote Indian tribe, police say (Washington Post)
From India to US detention: Trump’s campus crackdown sends warning to foreign students (France24)
India Passes Contentious Bill Increasing Oversight of Muslim Land Trusts (New York Times)
Protests break out in India over new bill that would change Muslim land endowments (The Independent)
India navy delivers aid to quake-hit Myanmar (Agence France-Presse)
NSB
Leading garment producer Bangladesh holds crisis talks on US tariffs (Agence France-Presse)
South Asian garment makers anxious about future after Trump’s ‘shock’ tariffs: ‘Terrible for business’ (The Independent)
Bangladesh Grants Musk Licence For Starlink Rollout (Agence France-Presse)
Myanmar confirms 180,000 Rohingya refugees eligible for return, says Bangladesh (Reuters)
Central Asia
Samarkand Summit Marks A New Era In EU-Central Asia Relations Amid Geopolitical Challenges (Radio Free Europe)
Central Asia eager to cooperate with the EU ‘as a bloc’ (Euronews)
Uzbekistan’s Silk Mirage: Is Freedom Of Speech Heading ‘Back To The Future’? (Radio Free Europe)
Indo-Pacific
India and Sri Lanka sign defense and energy deals as Modi’s visit strengthens ties (AP)
India, UAE to develop Sri Lanka energy hub as Delhi competes with China for influence (Reuters)
India’s Modi praises close Sri Lanka ties at holy tree (Agence France-Presse)
India’s Modi urges Bangladesh leader to avoid rhetoric that mars ties (Reuters)
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