Afghanistan
Biden speaks with relatives of Americans held by Taliban, but deal to bring them home still elusive (AP)
Biden spoke with families of Americans detained in Afghanistan, White House says (Reuters)
Wife of American detained in Afghanistan heads to Mar-a-Lago to beg Trump to take up prisoner swap (FOX News)
Sullivan says ‘history has judged well’ Biden’s call to withdraw from Afghanistan (The Hill)
Gingrich: Afghans who fought alongside Americans should get ‘unusual level of support and treatment’ (The Hill)
Malala Condemns Taliban On Women’s Rights, Assails ‘Gender Apartheid’ (Radio Free Europe)
As Land Mines Kill More Afghans, Deminers Face Funding Crisis (Radio Free Europe)
The Taliban made me marry my boss: how one word led to a forced marriage (The Guardian)
Russia says Afghanistan was its top flour buyer in 2024 (Reuters)
Pakistan
Taliban Absent As Pakistan PM Opens Summit On Girls’ Education (Radio Free Europe)
A Pakistani court suspends the deportation of Afghan singers and musicians (AP)
China, Pakistan agree to ‘upgrade’ CPEC cooperation (Deutsche Welle)
Pakistan Makes Progress on First Panda Bonds, Finance Chief Says (Bloomberg)
‘Education apartheid’: schooling in crisis in Pakistan (Agence France-Presse)
Rescuers in southwestern Pakistan recover the bodies of 11 workers who died in a coal mine blast (AP)
India
World’s Largest Gathering Puts Modi’s Hindu Agenda in Spotlight (Bloomberg)
India kicks off a massive Hindu festival touted as the world’s largest religious gathering (AP)
Tens of thousands take holy dip in India as Maha Kumbh festival begins (Reuters)
Tougher U.S. sanctions to curb Russian oil supply to China and India (Reuters)
India won’t reduce troops along China border in winter, army chief says (Reuters)
India’s Modi marks the opening of a strategic tunnel in disputed Kashmir (AP)
Six dead and dozens injured after bus falls into ditch in hilly Indian state (The Independent)
Why is India courting the Taliban now? (Al Jazeera)
NSB
Tulip Siddiq faces calls to resign after Bangladesh leader’s remarks (Financial Times)
Sri Lanka’s children suffer amid climate change-fuelled floods and disease (South China Morning Post)
Central Asia
Central Asian leaders look to expand mutual trade (EurasiaNet)
Deportation Of Afghans Sparks Rare Outrage In Tajikistan (Radio Free Europe)
Indo-Pacific
Quad eyes foreign ministers’ meeting following Trump inauguration (Nikkei Asia)
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