Afghanistan
With Foreign Aid Freeze and Immigration Restrictions, US Leaves Afghan Allies in the Cold (The Diplomat)
Trump has stranded refugees and Afghan allies. America’s word is on the line (Houston Chronicle – opinion)
Pakistan
2 soldiers, 5 militants killed in southwest Pakistan during attack on security post (AP)
Pakistan army foils militant attempt to take security post in Balochistan (Reuters)
Pakistani journalists rally against law regulating social media (Reuters)
Pakistan Senate votes to ban fake news on social media (Deutsche Welle)
Chinese harassment claim shows growing frustration with Pakistan (Nikkei Asia)
As Pakistanis die in fresh Mediterranean tragedy, a question lingers: Why? (Al Jazeera)
India
India tries to give Trump ‘quick wins.’ What does Modi want in return? (Washington Post)
Dozens Feared Dead in Stampede at Huge Hindu Festival in India (New York Times)
Several Feared Dead in Stampede at Indian Religious Festival (Bloomberg)
Several people are feared dead in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India (AP)
At least seven killed in stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh festival, official says (Reuters)
India’s Modi may tackle economic slowdown, impending trade turmoil in annual budget (Reuters)
Indian state studies plan to ban petrol, diesel vehicles in Mumbai to control pollution (Reuters)
Life sentence for hitman who killed suspect in 1985 Air India bombings (BBC)
Why India’s Growth Momentum Is Losing Steam (The Diplomat)
NSB
US aid freeze threatens Bangladesh’s fragile economy and political stability (South China Morning Post)
Bangladesh train services resume after strike called off (Reuters)
Bangladesh needs systemic reform to end rights abuse: HRW (Al Jazeera)
Sri Lanka Keeps Policy Rate Steady in First Meeting for 2025 (Bloomberg)
Central Asia
Kazakhstan aims for revision of contracts with Western oil majors (Reuters)
Kazakhstan: Authorities aren’t joking about prosecuting satirical social media channel (EurasiaNet)
Read, Don’t Wipe! Turkmenistan Tells Citizens Not To ‘Soil’ State Newspapers (Radio Free Europe)
Kambarata-1 Brings Kyrgyz, Kazakh, and Uzbek Energy Officials Together in Tashkent (The Diplomat)
Twitter
Afghanistan
Pakistan
India
NSB
Central Asia
SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS