SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Friday, March 28, 2025 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
Taliban leader cites Quran in Eid message calling for unity and reconciliation in Afghanistan (AP)
AP [3/27/2025 7:41 AM, Staff, 34586K]
The Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader on Thursday issued a message saying Afghanistan had a "golden opportunity" for unity and reconciliation.
Hibatullah Akhundzada, who seldom leaves the southern province of Kandahar and is rarely seen in public, urged people to rally behind the country’s security forces whose "hard work and dedication" had brought peace to Afghanistan.
The message, issued ahead of the Islamic Eid Al-Fitr festival, did not mention numerous attacks targeting civilians and the Taliban but it did ask people to support the Vice and Virtue Ministry, which last year issued sweeping and repressive laws regulating personal conduct.
Akhundzada’s message was issued in five languages - Arabic, Dari, English, Pashto, and Urdu - and published on the social platform X by the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.
Hassan Abbas, a professor at the National Defense University in Washington D.C. and author of the "Return of the Taliban," said Akhundzada stressed the importance of unity from a religious perspective by citing verses from the Quran.
"His emphasis tells me that all the news about the challenges between him and (acting interior minister) Sirajuddin Haqqani are accurate and why, in these times when there are all these challenges, he expects everyone to toe his line.".
Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, there has been a shift of power and decision-making from the capital Kabul to Kandahar, a Taliban heartland and Akhundzada’s base.
The United Nations has said that Kandahar’s return as the seat of power — as it was during the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s — circumvented senior Taliban ministers in Kabul because of the way decisions were made.
Haqqani has in the past been critical of the leadership’s decision-making process and warned against authoritarianism.
The Taliban denies any internal rifts.
Aid funding cuts
Akhundzada’s Eid message also talked about the infrastructure and development work underway in Afghanistan.
These efforts focused on improving major roads between provinces, expanding trade relations with the world, and increasing export volumes, he said.
"The initiation of major development projects, mineral extraction, and the distribution of vast lands to traders and industrialists aim to reduce unemployment and improve the overall economic situation," he added.
Abbas said these initiatives came from the government in Kabul rather than Akhundzada, who was trying to take credit for them.
Akhundzada told Afghans to resist believing "harmful propaganda spread by hostile groups and intelligence agencies, who seek to sow despair or create unnecessary concerns about poverty and economic challenges.".
The U.N. says more than half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance to survive. The international body, together with nongovernmental groups, also provide basic services like education and health care. But a funding shortfall, exacerbated by massive U.S. aid cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration, threatens this work.
Last week, the World Health Organization said some 200 health facilities were either suspended or shut due to a lack of money. On Wednesday, the World Food Programme said up to 15 million people needed emergency food assistance to survive and that most families have to borrow money to buy basic groceries. The organization said it currently has funds to help just 6 million people a month.
Restrictions on females
Though Akhundzada mentioned the importance of education in his Eid message, he said nothing about reopening schools and universities for girls and women.
The restrictions on females is the biggest hurdle to the Taliban being recognized as Afghanistan’s official government. But several countries, including China and the UAE, have accepted their diplomats.
Spokesman Mujahid did not respond to requests for comment Thursday that the Taliban government was seeking control of the Afghan embassy in Washington D.C.
Diplomats who served under the former Afghan government were left in limbo when the Taliban returned to power.
Embassies in Europe and beyond continued to operate, but were accused by the Taliban in Kabul of failing to cooperate with authorities. Millions Of Afghan Girls Barred From School For Fourth Consecutive Year (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [3/27/2025 4:14 PM, Malali Bashir, 235K]
The new school year started in Afghanistan on March 22, but for the fourth consecutive year, millions of teenage girls were barred from attending classes.
Among them was Khalida, who was in the ninth grade when the Taliban seized power and banned education for girls above 12 years old.“The ban has had a big impact on my life,” Khalida, now 18, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi. “I used to spend all my time on my studies. Now my time passes aimlessly.”
The school ban has had a catastrophic impact on an estimated 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has erased women from public life and severely restricted their fundamental rights.
There has been a surge in forced, early, and child marriages. Child marriages have increased by around 25 percent since the Taliban takeover, according to the UN.
The lack of educational and professional prospects for women has fueled a rise in female suicides, making the country one of the few in the world where more women take their own lives than men.
"The lack of access to education not only threatens our future but also hinders our country from progress and development,” said another teenage Afghan girl, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.“We have the right to study, progress, and have a bright future," she told Radio Azadi.
UNICEF, the UN’s children’s agency, said the repercussions of the school ban will last for generations.“The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation,” UNICEF said in a March 22 statement.“With fewer girls receiving an education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage with negative repercussions on their well-being and health.”The agency warned that over 4 million girls will be out of school if the ban lasts until 2030.
Calls To Do More
Senior UN officials and Afghan female activists have termed the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan girls and women as “gender apartheid.”
They have called for the international community to put more pressure on the Taliban to reverse its ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade.
No country has recognized the Taliban’s government, which is under international sanctions. But a growing number of countries, including some in the West, are cooperating with its government on trade, security-related issues, and immigration.
"The Taliban still go around and travel freely,” said Pashtana Durrani, a prominent Afghan education activist who lives in exile.“They give interviews. They have bank accounts. Their families live abroad yet they have banned Afghan women from getting an education.”
She added: “The international community should be asked whether they truly want the Taliban to open girls’ schools or not?” Pakistan
Why is Pakistan’s new canal project sparking water shortage fears? (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [3/27/2025 4:14 PM, Abid Hussain, 18.2M]
The Pakistan government has launched an ambitious agricultural project with the aim of boosting food security in the South Asian nation of 240 million people.
A network of six canals will be built across the country to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands as part of the $3.3bn (945 billion rupees) project called Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), which was launched by the country’s powerful army chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2023.
Inaugurated by Munir and the chief minister of Punjab province last month, the canal project has been hailed by supporters as a game-changer that will transform vast desert lands into fertile farmland.
Munir praised Punjab, the most populous province, for its role as the “powerhouse of Pakistan’s agriculture”, adding that the military would continue its support for the country’s economic growth.
But critics say the megaproject, which aims to build canals across Pakistan’s four provinces, would cause water shortages in the southern parts of the country. They say the project was planned without consent from stakeholders.The GPI, according to many sceptics, will further stress Pakistan’s river system, which has seen decreasing water levels due to climate change and overexploitation.
Numerous protests have taken place in the southern province of Sindh since the project was announced, with the latest demonstration taking place on March 25 in major cities including Karachi, led by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the governing party in Sindh which is also supporting the Sharif-led government.
So, what is the GPI? What is its scope? And why are some of its proposed canals facing such strong resistance?
Why have people protested in Sindh?
Water allocation has long been a political flashpoint in Pakistan, and Sindh, as a lower riparian province, fears that losing water to upstream developments could spell disaster.
Since the government announced its intention to develop canals on the Indus – the country’s largest river and water lifeline — thousands of people, including women and children, have taken to the streets.
A protest rally was held on February 16 in Bhit Shah in Sindh, in which participants railed against the canal system, expressing their fear that Sindh’s water share would be potentially reduced. Sindh depends on water from the Indus River system for drinking as well as agricultural purposes.
What is the Green Pakistan Initiative?
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing nearly 25 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) and providing 37 percent of its employment.
The GPI was launched in July 2023 to address outdated farming practices to improve productivity.
It aims to modernise the agricultural sector by introducing new technologies and equipment, including drones, land management systems, and tractors, as well as providing seeds and fertilisers to increase yields.
The project also aims to provide technical inputs to farmers, including soil testing among other services, and attract both domestic and foreign investment to create what Munir described as “modern farms” at the project’s inauguration in Islamabad in 2023.
Pakistan imported $9bn worth of food items in 2023, even as it has faced a balance of payment crisis and has been forced to borrow funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Green Corporate Initiative (GCI), an army-owned private company, has been tasked with converting wastelands into cultivable farmland.“Revitalising agriculture is essential for the economy, particularly as Pakistan faces climate-related threats,” retired army general Shahid Nazir, who heads the GPI, told Al Jazeera.
Nazir said 4.8 million acres (1.94 million hectares) of “barren wasteland” has been identified across the country.
Making that land cultivable would also provide employment opportunities to more than 60,000 people, he added.
The military wields immense influence in the country, having directly ruled Pakistan for more than three decades, and runs several commercial entities in the real estate, agriculture, construction and other sectors.
According to the GPI, the project will focus on growing “target crops”, including cotton, wheat, canola, sunflower, rice, and lentils, among others.
Under the plan, the company will lease land for 30 years through different business models, in which a minimum of 1,000 acres (405 hectares) will be allocated to investors, who could be both foreign as well as domestic large-scale investors.
However, Nazir added that the ultimate objective is to use the large-scale investment as a model for small farmers, who could then collaborate with other small farmers to upgrade their farming techniques, bringing them up to speed with contemporary practices.
What is the Cholistan Canal and why is it important?
The approvals for the “six strategic canals” were given by President Asif Ali Zardari in July 2024, who is from Sindh and a co-chairperson of the PPP, after his meeting with GPI officials.
According to meeting minutes, these canals were deemed “vital for agricultural development and food security”, and Zardari approved their “simultaneous execution” while urging consistent funding from both federal and provincial governments.
Of the canals, the Cholistan is the largest and most critical project.
The 176km (109-mile) long canal, according to official documents, has three branches, with a total capacity of 4,120 cusecs (116,665 litres/second), and is expected to be completed by mid-2030, at an estimated cost of $783m.
To build the canal, authorities have acquired 1.2 million acres (485,623 hectares) of land in Punjab, with more than 90 percent of it in the Cholistan Desert, which borders India.
In the first phase, 452,000 acres of land will be covered, while 750,000 acres of land will be irrigated by the completion of the second phase. More than 170,000 acres of land in the Cholistan Desert are already used by private investors for cultivation.
According to the working paper prepared by the federal Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, “The construction of the Cholistan Canal is therefore seen as a critical intervention to transform the region by bringing reliable and sustainable water supplies to large areas of previously uncultivable land.”“This project is also aligned with broader national goals, such as increasing food security, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting sustainable development in Pakistan’s less developed regions,” the paper said.
Nazir outlined three primary objectives for cultivating the Cholistan Desert: “developing land and increasing yield, enhancing biodiversity, and ensuring social impact”.“While our local farmer is the ultimate goal, we want to collaborate with foreign investors as well as large-scale domestic investors,” he said.
The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-level body co-chaired by the army chief and the prime minister, was created in 2023 to help investors bypass bureaucratic hurdles.
The move is aimed at attracting investors to Pakistan, a country facing severe economic challenges and currently engaged in a $7bn IMF bailout, its 25th since 1958.
Where will the water come from?
Following the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), a water distribution mechanism between Pakistan and India agreed upon in 1960, Pakistan has control of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, whereas India controls the Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.
The proposed plan for canals states that they will be fed by excess floodwaters from the India-controlled Sutlej River. However, critics argue that relying solely on floodwater is an unreliable proposition.
Naseer Memon, an Islamabad-based environmental specialist, highlights that water flow in the eastern rivers of the Indus Basin – Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas – has been steadily declining due to the construction of dams as well as climate change.“If you look at the flow data, between 1976 and 1998, the average flow was 9.35 million acre-feet (MAF). From 1999 to 2022, it has dropped to just 2.96 MAF,” he told Al Jazeera.
A 2021 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that Pakistan relies solely on the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) for its basic food security and water supply.
The country saves only 10 percent of its river water compared with a global average of 40 percent. Moreover, the FAO says Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed nations in the world, withdrawing nearly 75 percent of its total renewable water resources.
The IBIS is one of the largest contiguous irrigation systems in the world, helping irrigate about 44 million acres (18 million hectares) of land in Pakistan and operates through “three major multipurpose storage reservoirs, 19 barrages, 12 inter-river link canals and 45 major irrigation canals”, according to FAO.What are the critics saying?
Water distribution in Pakistan is overseen by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), a regulatory body established in 1992 to equitably distribute Indus River water among the four provinces.
Despite opposition from Sindh’s IRSA representative Ehsan Leghari, the authority last month issued a certificate essentially accepting that there was enough water available for the Cholistan Canal.
In his dissenting note, Leghari warned that this might require water from the Indus to be redirected towards the Cholistan Canal, which, he argued, would be “unfair to Sindh”.“The analysis of data of the Indus basin in Pakistan has indicated in many reports that the water use in the Indus basin already exceeds the availability, and the Indus basin is passing through critical state, not able to meet existing irrigated, drinking water needs and unable to stop sea water intrusion,” Leghari wrote in his note.
The Sindh government, which is led by the PPP, an ally of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), has passed a unanimous resolution in the provincial assembly, demanding an immediate halt to all activities related to the canal project.
A senior leader from the PPP has also criticised the project, saying it would have a detrimental effect on the agricultural sector in Sindh.
Sherry Rehman, the party’s leader in the upper house of parliament, warned that the project would lead to the desertification of Sindh’s fertile lands.
Memon, the water expert, questioned the lack of transparency from the military and Punjab’s government on how irrigation water would be sourced.“If Sutlej does not have enough water and Punjab diverts from the Jhelum River, Punjab’s shortfall may then be compensated by taking more water from the Indus, depriving Sindh,” he said.
Adding to the concerns highlighted by Memon, an official IRSA memo last week warned of water shortages, stating that Punjab had already faced a 20 percent shortfall and Sindh 14 percent, with potential shortages rising to 30 to 35 percent in the coming months.
Memon agreed that improving agricultural practices and bringing them on par with modern practices is necessary, but said, “The process has to be transparent and equitable.”“Punjab’s own share of water is guaranteed through the existing system of canals. But when new irrigation areas are planned, without explaining where the water is coming from, it is inevitable that people in Sindh will express their anger and protest India
Trade talks with US ‘progressing well’, says India’s trade minister (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 11:06 AM, Shivangi Acharya, 126906K]
Trade talks with the United States are "progressing well", Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday, with days to go before President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs are due to come into effect.
Goyal said a bilateral trade pact, still in the works, will benefit both nations, and that India is in touch with stakeholders from agriculture, engineering goods, textiles and other sectors over the deal.
The comments come as a delegation of officials, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, is on a three-day visit to India for trade talks. India offers US tariff cuts on farm imports, eyes trade success, government sources say (Reuters)
Reuters [3/28/2025 3:24 AM, Manoj Kumar, 5.2M]
India has offered tariff cuts on imports of U.S. farm products like almonds and cranberries as a further concession to the United States, two government sources said, hoping to avert President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs set for next week.
Unlike China, Canada and the European Union, India is actively seeking to appease the Trump administration and is open to cutting tariffs on over half of U.S. imports worth $23 billion, Reuters reported earlier this week.
In a series of meeting in New Delhi with Brendan Lynch, the assistant U.S. trade representative for South and Central Asia, India agreed to cut tariffs on bourbon whiskey and agricultural products such as almonds, walnuts, cranberries, pistachios and lentils, one of the sources familiar with discussions, said.
The talks to fast-track negotiations is likely to conclude late Friday.
Trade talks are "progressing well" and the bilateral trade pact, still in progress, will benefit both nations, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.
"Securing a favourable deal is a priority for Indian negotiators," a second government source said, adding that India has aligned its offers with U.S. priorities, particularly in the agriculture industry and some other sectors.
Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
India’s trade ministry didn’t respond to email request for comment, while the U.S. embassy spokesperson in New Delhi said: "We don’t have anything to share on private diplomatic discussions."
India lowered duties for bourbon whiskey to 100% from 150% last month. Import duties range from 30% to 100% on agricultural products like cranberries, almonds, walnuts, and around 10% on lentils.
However, there is still resistance in government circles to lowering tariffs for dairy products, rice, wheat and maize, the source said, adding India is seeking greater market access for shipments of fruits like pomegranates and grapes besides rice to the U.S. market.
The negotiators are expected to agree on the framework for the broad contours of the first phase of the bilateral deal, expected to be signed by fall 2025, the sources said.
In 2024, exports of U.S. agriculture and allied products to India totalled nearly $2 billion, including $452 million in alcoholic beverages and $1.3 billion in fruits and vegetables while India’s exports to the U.S. stood at about $5.5 billion. India’s steps to win over US President Trump, avert tariffs (Reuters)
Reuters [3/28/2025 3:43 AM, Shivangi Acharya and Aftab Ahmed, 5.2M]
India is one of the few nations working to lower tariffs and win over U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the South Asian nation a "tariff king" and "tariff abuser" and has vowed to reciprocate.
Both countries have started talks towards clinching an early trade deal and resolving their standoff on tariffs.
This week, Reuters reported India was open to cutting tariffs on more than half of U.S. imports worth $23 billion.
Since February, India has taken steps to win Trump’s favour:
INDIA PLANS ENERGY, DEFENCE BUYS FROM US
New Delhi has promised to step up energy purchases from the United States to $25 billion in the near future from $15 billion last year. Trump also said he was paving the way to provide F-35 stealth fighters to India.
The series of agreements emerged after talks at the White House between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India wants to increase by "billions of dollars" its purchases of U.S. defence equipment and may make Washington the number one supplier of oil and gas.
SCRAPS DIGITAL AD TAX
India will scrap a tax of 6% on digital advertisements online from April 1, the finance minister said on Tuesday, easing costs for U.S. tech giants such as Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O), Meta (META.O), and Amazon (AMZN.O) to soothe U.S. trade concerns.
LOWER TARIFF ON BOURBON WHISKY
India has slashed tariffs on bourbon whisky to 100% from 150%, standing to benefit imports of brands such as Suntory’s Jim Beam, after Trump criticised its "unfair" levies.
CUT IN BASIC CUSTOMS DUTIES
In its budget on Feb.1, India slashed basic customs duties on items such as luxury cars, solar cells and machinery, reducing its peak import tariff to 70% from 150%, and average tariffs to below 11% from 13%.
Though the effective rate on those items remained the same due to levy of a domestic tax called the Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC), but the government has vowed to remove that too as trade talks progress.
STARLINK IN INDIA
Elon Musk’s Starlink partnered with Indian telecom giants Reliance and Airtel and is close to getting final regulatory approvals from the Indian government for satellite broadband service.
India’s approval is key as it would pave the road into more emerging markets and boost the company’s ambitions to add a million subscribers every year. India rejects US religious freedom report urging sanctions on its spy agency (The Independent)
The Independent [3/27/2025 3:57 PM, Shweta Sharma, 53K]
India has rejected an annual report released by a US panel on religious freedom as "biased and politically motivated" after it highlighted the “deteriorating” treatment of religious minorities in the South Asian country.The report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged the US to sanction Indian individuals and entities, including India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), over alleged plots to assassinate Sikh separatists abroad, marking an escalation in its accusations.It said that the that religious freedom conditions in India worsened in 2024 under prime minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government as it accused the leader of propagating “hateful rhetoric and disinformation against Muslims and other religious minorities”.“Such rhetoric fuelled attacks on religious minorities that continued after the election, including vigilante violence, targeted and arbitrary killings, and demolition of property and places of worship,” it said.India’s foreign ministry criticised the USCIRF for what it described as its "persistent attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents" and for questioning India’s commitment to religious freedom."The USCIRF’s report continues its pattern of issuing assessments driven by a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom," spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.The US has sought to build close ties with India given their shared concerns about China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts say that as a result, Washington has overlooked human rights issues. However, ties were tested after the US criminally charged a former Indian intelligence officer accused of directing a foiled assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in New York City in 2023.The US Justice Department indicted ex-Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, for his alleged involvement in the murder-for-hire of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US and Canadian citizen who advocates for the creation of the independent Sikh state of Khalistan.India labels Sikh separatists as security threats and has denied involvement.The report said that the Indian government is involved in “regressive tactics to target religious minorities abroad, specifically members of the Sikh community”.“International reporting and intelligence from the Canadian government corroborated allegations linking an official in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and six diplomats to the 2023 assassination attempt of an American Sikh activist in New York,” it said.The panel has also recommended the US government designate India as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations. The report noted Mr Modi’s comments on Muslims last year in April as he mentioned them as "infiltrators" who have "more children" in the days leading up to the election.Religious and press freedom advocates have continued to sound the alarm about the treatment of Muslims and other minorities under the Hindu nationalist BJP party led by Mr Modi.Muslims comprise nearly 14 per cent of India’s 1.4 billion people while Hindus are nearly 80 per cent of the population and Christians at two per cent.Rights advocates point to rising hate speech, a citizenship law the UN called "fundamentally discriminatory", anti-conversion legislation that critics say challenges freedom of belief, the revoking of Muslim majority Kashmir’s special status and the demolition of properties owned by Muslims.The commission, a bipartisan US advisory body on global religious freedom, makes policy recommendations. However, its suggestions are not binding, making US sanctions on RAW unlikely. India among top suppliers of illicit fentanyl precursors, US intelligence report says (CNN)
CNN [3/27/2025 7:26 AM, Rhea Mogul, 24727K]
India has emerged as a growing player in the illicit fentanyl trade, a new US intelligence report says, a designation likely to raise alarm in New Delhi as President Donald Trump wields tariffs on countries he accuses of not doing enough to stop the deadly drug from flowing into the United States.Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can be 100 times more potent than morphine, is the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in the US – fueling an opioid crisis that has become a high-priority issue for the Trump administration.For many years, China has been the largest source of both legal supplies of the drug – which is prescribed for severe pain relief – and illicit supplies of precursor chemicals that are typically processed in labs in Mexico before the final product is smuggled across the US border.But India’s role in the illegal trade is becoming more prominent, according to the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence this month.“Nonstate groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers,” the report said.“China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India.”Last year’s ATA report named India as among countries other than China where Mexican cartels were sourcing precursor chemicals to a “lesser extent.” The 2023 report made no mention of India in relation to fentanyl.India is a global leader in generic drug manufacturing, supplying a significant portion of the world’s vaccines and medicines. It has a pharmaceutical industry so large, it is often referred to as the “Pharmacy of the World.” But the industry has been marred by controversy, raising concerns about regulation and quality control.On March 17, India’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in the western state of Gujarat said it had arrested two people linked to Surat-based pharmaceutical companies for allegedly exporting illicit fentanyl precursors to Mexico and Guatemala, according to the Press Trust of India. CNN has reached out to the ATS.Days later, the US Department of Justice indicted three top executives from a Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company for allegedly importing ingredients used to make illicit fentanyl.New Delhi has not publicly spoken about the ATA report. CNN has contacted India’s Ministry of External Affairs for a response.The report comes at a delicate time for India as it mounts a case to avoid US tariffs.The US was India’s largest trading partner in 2024, accounting for almost $120 billion in trade, yet India only ranked tenth in the list of US trading partners for the same year.Indian economist and researcher Soumya Bhowmik said the ATA report “may introduce complexities in India-US relations,” and could “open the door for tougher rhetoric and potentially even targeted tariffs.”Earlier this month, the Trump administration enacted tariffs against the US’ top three trading partners: China, Mexico and Canada, saying the levies of up to 25% were necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl into the US.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Washington in February, where he spoke with Trump about a range of issues from defense and technology to trade and economic growth.The two leaders “resolved to expand trade and investment to make their citizens more prosperous, nations stronger, economies more innovative and supply chains more resilient,” a joint statement from that meeting said.A Washington delegation is currently in New Delhi for trade talks.India has “proactively undertaken measures to respond to potential trade tensions and mitigate the impact of impending US tariffs,” said Bhowmik, including a proposal to remove import duties on goods essential for manufacturing.The ATA report also “highlights the critical importance of collaborative efforts between (the US and India) to address the global opioid crisis,” Bhowmik said. India Bars Oil Tanker Hauling Russian Crude on Documents Lapse (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [3/28/2025 2:18 AM, Rakesh Sharma and Weilun Soon, 5.5M]
A tanker carrying Russian crude for state-run Indian Oil Corp. has been denied entry to a port in the key Asian buyer due to a lack of proper documentation, according to people familiar with the development.
The Honduran-flagged Andaman Skies, built in 2004, loaded 767,000 barrels at Murmansk on Feb. 24, and was due to discharge at Vadinar on March 30, according to Kpler data. But the vessel’s documents seeking approval to dock at the west coast port weren’t in order, said the people, who asked not to be identified, and didn’t give precise reasons for the paperwork falling short.
India emerged as a vital destination for Russian seaborne crude shipments after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the nation’s import flows are closely scrutinized by the market. Waves of western sanctions by the US, European Union and UK against Russian vessels have complicated the trade, with Washington adding dozens of ships to a blacklist in January. The Andaman Skies was not included in that push, although it has been targeted by the British authorities.
The denial of entry to the Andaman Skies was reported earlier by Reuters. At present, the vessel is in the Arabian Sea between Oman and India, still fully laden, and it appears to have stopped sailing, ship-tracking data show.
The ship’s registered owner as listed on the Equasis database, Durbeen Navigation Ltd., did not immediately respond to a request for comment. India denies entry to ship carrying Russian oil over documentation, sources say (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 12:47 PM, Nidhi Verma, 5.2M]
Indian port authorities denied entry to an ageing tanker loaded with Russian crude on Thursday due to inadequate documentation, sources familiar with the matter said, an unusual move that indicates tightened scrutiny of vessels carrying Russian oil.
India is the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude. Russian oil accounted for about 35% of overall crude imports in 2024 by India, the world’s third biggest oil importer and consumer.
The Tanzania-flagged Andaman Skies, carrying about 100,000 metric tons (or some 800,000 barrels) of Varandey Russian oil sold by Lukoil from the northern port of Murmansk, shipping data showed, was on course for the Vadinar Port for delivery to state refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) before being turned away, sources said.
The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak with media.
Indian port entry rules require tankers that are more than 20 years old to have seaworthiness certification by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies or an entity authorised by India’s maritime administration.
Andaman Skies, which was built in 2004 and had previously visited India as recently as December, was carrying certification by Dakar Class, which is based in India but not recognised by Indian shipping authorities, the sources said.
The vessel has protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance cover from Russian company Soglasie, according to two sources familiar with the vessel’s documents.
Lukoil and Soglasie didn’t immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Vadinar port authorities and Indian Oil did not respond to Reuters’ emails seeking comments.
Russian oil supplies to top buyers India and China fell sharply in the immediate aftermath of sweeping U.S. sanctions in January, aimed at curtailing Moscow’s oil revenue, on targets including more than 100 ships, making it harder for sellers of Russian oil to find vessels.
India’s oil secretary last month said the country’s refiners would buy Russian oil supplied by companies and ships not sanctioned by the U.S., effectively reducing the number of cargoes and vessels available.
Indian refiners buy Russian oil on delivered basis with ship, insurance and other servics arranged by the seller.
While the Andaman Skies is subject to UK and European Union sanctions, it is not designated by U.S. or United Nations sanctions. India follows United Nations sanctions.
Contact information for the ship’s owner Durbeen Navigation Ltd could not immediately be found. India criticises X for calling compliance website a censorship tool (Reuters)
Reuters [3/28/2025 2:43 AM, Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra, 5.2M]
India has criticised Elon Musk’s X for wrongly labelling as a "censorship portal" an official website that allows tech companies to be notified about harmful online content, court papers reviewed by Reuters showed on Friday.
The lawsuit marks an escalation in a legal dispute between X and the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over how it orders content to be taken down, at a time when Musk nears the launch in India of his other key ventures, Starlink and Tesla.
The comments came in a rejoinder to X’s new lawsuit filed on March 5 in the southern state of Karnataka seeking to quash the government’s website initiative.
"The use of the said terminology by a worldwide portal like X is unfortunate and condemnable," the information technology ministry told the court, adding that the company was raising a "groundless concern of censorship".
The ministry, whose statement to the court on March 27 is not public, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Modi’s government says the new website was intended only to swiftly notify tech companies of their due diligence obligations and no blocking orders were issued.
X says India has unlawfully expanded its censorship powers to allow easier removal of online content, giving "countless" government officials the power to execute such orders through the website it described as a "censorship portal". India seizes goods from Amazon, Flipkart warehouses amid crackdown (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 7:28 AM, Staff, 1191K]
India’s state-run product certification agency said it raided the Delhi warehouses of e-commerce giants Amazon (AMZN.O) and Flipkart this month, seizing items that did not meet quality control standards, as it increased its scrutiny of the two firms.The Bureau of Indian Standards said last week it conducted similar searches at the companies’ warehouses in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, saying they stored, sold, and exhibited items that did not have a required standards label. Amazon and Flipkart, which is owned by U.S. retail giant Walmart (WMT.N) had responded saying they comply with local laws.While Flipkart did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the Delhi raids, a spokesperson for Amazon India said the firm is "engaged closely with various stakeholders, including regulators."Both are the dominant players in India’s e-commerce market which, according to estimates by consultancy firm Bain, was worth between $57 billion and $60 billion in 2023, and could top $160 billion in value by 2028.The agency said on Thursday it has seized items including geysers and food mixers worth about 7 million rupees ($81,561) in warehouses operated by an Amazon subsidiary in Delhi.The seized products either lacked the standard quality control mark, or carried fake labels, the agency said.It seized almost $7,000 worth of sports shoes from a Flipkart unit, which were ready for dispatch but did not carry necessary product certification marks.The warehouse seizures are the latest troubles for Amazon and Flipkart in India. An antitrust investigation last September found the companies had violated local competition laws by giving preference to selected sellers on their shopping websites.A 2021 Reuters investigation, based on internal Amazon documents, showed the company had for years given preferential treatment to small groups of sellers, and used them to bypass Indian laws. Amazon denied any wrongdoing. Will India Join the Squad? (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [3/27/2025 3:23 PM, Rushali Saha, 53K]
At the recent Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Philippines’ Armed Forces Chief General Romeo S. Brawner revealed ongoing discussions to expand the membership of the "Squad" grouping of nations. "Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the squad to include India and probably South Korea," Brawner said.
A minilateral grouping comprising Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, the Squad was formed in May 2024 to push back against China’s growing maritime power and increasing assertiveness in Asia. It emerged out of a meeting of the defense chiefs of the four countries on the sidelines of the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore in 2023.
"We have a commonality with India because we have a common enemy. And I’m not afraid to say that China is our common enemy. So, it’s important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence," Brawner said.
The announcement comes amid China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the South China Sea, where it has overlapping maritime claims with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The Philippines’ push to include New Delhi in the Squad is not surprising as India has increasingly emerged as an important factor in the strategic calculations of South China Sea littoral states, stemming from India’s growing involvement in the maritime disputes that plague the sea.
Previously, India preferred a cautious approach to the disputes. For example, it adopted a neutral stance on the 2016 arbitral tribunal award on the South China Sea, which ruled in the Philippines’ favor against China. However, India has increasingly signaled warming relations with China’s rival claimant states. Recently, India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, was explicit in expressing support for the Philippines’ maritime rights in the South China Sea. He "firmly reiterate[d] India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty.".
India’s support for Southeast Asian claimant states goes beyond rhetoric. In May 2023, for the first time, India sent warships to the South China Sea as part of its maiden maritime exercise with the navies of the ASEAN countries. Again in 2024, Indian Navy ships participated in an operational deployment to the South China Sea, which included port calls at Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei.
Importantly, India has increased defense exports to Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines and Indonesia, and is supporting their naval modernization efforts.
To be sure, New Delhi is still careful not to cross what the Chinese would consider "red lines." Even as India’ss policy continues to be driven by its long-stated commitment to the principles of freedom of navigation, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for international laws, its actions in the South China Sea remain short of direct involvement.
This comes from a pragmatic assessment of the Indian Navy’s limited assertive force projection around disputed areas of the South China Sea, where Beijing is evidently the much stronger military power. India’s position of non-involvement in the maritime disputes is also consistent with its long-standing position of opposition to external interference in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Additionally, for the Indian Navy, whose primary area of interest is the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea is of secondary importance.
At the same time, there are strong reasons why India should play a bigger role in the South China Sea.
First, New Delhi has high economic and diplomatic stakes in the region. Not only does 55 percent of India’s trade pass through the South China Sea and Malacca Straits but also, India is participating in the joint development of energy resources in the region. Unfettered Chinese control of the waters poses a threat to India’s economic vitality and national security; that makes such a scenario unacceptable to New Delhi.
Second, increasing Chinese coercion, despite major maritime powers such as the U.S., Japan, and EU countries increasing their naval deployments in the South China Sea, underscores the need for collective action. This is acknowledged by Southeast Asian countries themselves, which are turning toward powerful extraregional actors to prevent a China-driven East Asian security order. As a country that is trying to position itself as a responsible growing power, New Delhi cannot afford to sit by idly, especially with Southeast Asian countries seriously doubting New Delhi’s capability and political will for global leadership.
According to ‘The State of South East Asia-2024’ published by the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, only 14.2 percent of respondents in a survey were confident that India would "do the right thing" and contribute to global stability, while 30.5 percent had "little confidence" it would do so. Consequently, India will need to be, in the words of former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, more "responsive to ASEAN expectations." To be taken more seriously by Southeast Asian countries, India will need to be more proactive in engaging them.
Besides, the assumption that China would respect Indian redlines in the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean if New Delhi did not interfere in the South China Sea disputes was disproved by China’s aggression on Indian soldiers at Galwan in Ladakh in June 2020.
So, will India consider joining the Squad?
When the idea of the Squad grouping was first floated, New Delhi’s strategic circles were not so receptive to it. There were apprehensions that it would replace the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, of which India is a part. But such apprehensions have since dissipated.
Much will depend on how this grouping, currently in its infancy, evolves.
It is worth noting that India’s initial hesitation in joining the Quad was due to the grouping’s overtly military nature in its early years. New Delhi’s subsequent warming to the Quad was because of its expanded scope and, in the words of Jaishankar, "good agenda" when it was revived With no formal institutional structure in place, the Squad’s activities have been limited to periodically publicized military exercises, the most recent of which was held in February 2025.
Given its focus on military cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises, the Squad is likely to appeal less to New Delhi, reducing the chances of the latter joining the grouping in its current form. However, if the scope and agenda of the grouping are restructured to focus on soft security issues, such as maritime safety, New Delhi might be more receptive. NSB
US to give $73 million to aid Rohingya refugees, State Dept. says (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 11:07 AM, Susan Heavey, 41523K]
The Trump administration said on Thursday it will provide $73 million in new financial aid to Rohingya refugees through the U.N. World Food Programme, amid concerns that aid cuts could deepen the crisis for the world’s largest stateless population.
"This food and nutrition support through @WFP will provide critically needed food and nutrition assistance for more than one million people," U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a post on X. "It is important that our international partners engage with sharing the burden with life-saving assistance such as this.".
The infusion comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance as part of his "America First" agenda and wider efforts to drastically cut federal spending and dismantle parts of the U.S. government.
Two United Nations agencies had warned that a funding deficit would curb rations for the Rohingya in Bangladesh who have fled violence in neighboring Myanmar for the past eight years. Refugees have worried that cuts would worsen hunger, curtail critical healthcare and fuel crime.
Washington had been the largest provider of aid to the Rohingya refugees, contributing nearly $2.4 billion since 2017, according to the State Department. But the recent freeze on funds after Trump took office in January has forced at least five hospitals to reduce services.
Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk have moved to shutter USAID, the main U.S. foreign aid agency, and merge its remnants into the State Department, fired hundreds of staff and contractors and terminated billions of dollars in services on which tens of millions of people around the world depend.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February granted a waiver for all life-saving assistance and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such aid.
The Trump administration official overseeing the dismantling of USAID had proposed phasing out help for the Rohingya, Reuters reported earlier this month. UN Slightly Reduces Rations for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 11:08 AM, Ruma Paul, 24727K]
The United Nations World Food Programme has managed to sustain food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, though rations have been slightly reduced due to funding shortages, officials said on Thursday.
Under the revised system, each refugee in the world’s largest refugee settlement in the southeastern border district of Cox’s Bazar will receive $12 per month, down from the previous $12.50.
Earlier this month, WFP warned that without urgent financial support, it might be forced to halve food rations to just $6 per person in April. A similar reduction in 2023, which lowered food rations to $8 per person, led to a sharp increase in malnutrition before it was reversed.
"We are deeply grateful. At least we can now survive. Otherwise, we would simply be starving," Joinul Mostafa, a Rohingya refugee in Cox’s Bazar, told Reuters.
A WFP spokesperson said it bridged the funding gap "with timely contributions from donors," without giving details. Separately, the U.S. said on Thursday it will provide $73 million in new financial aid to Rohingya refugees through the WFP.
Bangladesh is sheltering more than 1 million Rohingya - members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled violent purges in neighbouring Myanmar - in camps in the Cox’s Bazar district, where they have limited access to jobs or education.
About 70,000 Rohingya from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh last year, driven in part by growing hunger in their home state of Rakhine.
The Office of Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, which oversees refugee camps, said the food rations will help sustain food security and nutrition among the refugees.
"We also urge the international community to step forward with the necessary funding so that these life-saving programs can be sustained in the long term," it said in a statement.
Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi officials have worried that cuts would worsen hunger, curtail critical healthcare and fuel crime, while increasing the risks of human trafficking and radicalization. The Inter-Sector Coordination Group, which oversees relief operations, said about 300,000 refugees have already faced disruptions in healthcare services. UN Halts Plan To Halve Refugee Rations For Rohingya In Bangladesh (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [3/28/2025 2:59 AM, Staff, 931K]
The UN’s food agency said Friday it had halted its plans to halve rations for the million-plus Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh after a successful appeal for more foreign aid.
Huge numbers of the persecuted and stateless Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most arriving after fleeing a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar.
The World Food Programme said in a letter earlier this month that "severe funding shortfalls" would force it to cut monthly food rations from $12.50 to $6.00 per person from April.
That decision had been halted "thanks to the timely support of the international community, including the US," agency spokesperson Kun Li told AFP.
US President Donald Trump imposed a freeze on foreign aid in January pending a review, after which Washington announced the cancellation of 83 percent of programmes at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Li said the US had allocated $73 million for Rohingya refugees this year along with "a significant in-kind contribution".
"While the April ration cuts have been averted, given the immense needs, we still require continued support, or we will soon run out of funds again," Li added.
Food funds have still been slightly reduced.
The Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar will receive a monthly ration of $12 per person, while those resettled on the outlying island of Bhasan Char will be allocated $13, Bangladeshi refugee agency spokesperson Shamsud Douza Nayan told AFP.
The decision came two weeks after a UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Rohingya camps for a Ramadan solidarity visit and joined thousands of Rohingya refugees for a fast-breaking iftar meal.
During his visit, he pledged to do everything possible to restore aid.
"I can promise that we will do everything to avoid it, and I will be talking to all countries in the world that can support us to ensure that funds are made available to prevent further suffering and even loss of life," Guterres said.
The UN last week announced a fundraising campaign seeking $1 billion in funding for Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh for 2025-26.
Successive aid cuts have already caused severe hardship among the Rohingya, who rely entirely on humanitarian assistance and suffer from widespread malnutrition. Bangladesh says Xi Jinping would consider lowering interest on Chinese loans (Reuters)
Reuters [3/28/2025 3:59 AM, Ruma Paul, 5.2M]
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, that Beijing would consider requests to lower interest rates on Chinese loans to Dhaka, Yunus’ press chief said on Friday.
Yunus was in China on his first bilateral state visit since assuming office last year. He has yet to visit India, amid diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.President Xi also reaffirmed China’s commitment to encouraging Chinese investment in Bangladesh and facilitating the relocation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises, Yunus’ Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a Facebook post describing the talks as "comprehensive, fruitful, and constructive".
"President Xi reiterated China’s support to the Chief Adviser and the Interim Government. It was Professor Yunus’ first bilateral foreign tour, and so far, it has been a grand success," Alam said.
China is also considering enhanced cooperation in water resource management, a key issue raised by Bangladesh during the talks, he added.
The sides said in a joint press release they had underscored the importance of starting negotiations on a China-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement soon, and officially starting negotiations on optimizing a China-Bangladesh Investment Agreement.
The press release also said Bangladesh supported the One-China policy, recognising Taiwan as part of Chinese territory.
The sides signed one agreement on economic and technical cooperation and eight memorandums, mostly on cultural exchanges.
"China is ready to work with Bangladesh to promote the high-quality building of the Belt and Road, explore cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, green economy, maritime economy, infrastructure construction and water conservancy, and enhance humanistic exchanges so as to promote people-to-people contact," Chinese state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
Yunus replaced Sheikh Hasina, India’s long-time ally, who was removed from power as prime minister in August following deadly protests. Hasina sought refuge in India, which has not responded to Bangladesh’s requests to extradite her for trial.
China has been strengthening its ties with Bangladesh and is its largest trading partner, with annual trade amounting to $25 billion. However, despite Beijing’s offer of zero-tariff market access for many Bangladeshi products, Bangladesh’s exports to China remain limited at just $1 billion.
Analysts say Bangladesh’s growing relationship with China and weakening ties with India could reshape South Asia’s geopolitical balance, and raise security concerns for India. China’s Xi vows deeper cooperation in meeting with Bangladesh leader (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [3/28/2025 1:05 AM, Matthew Walsh, 62527K]
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday pledged deeper cooperation with Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Yunus in a meeting that came as Dhaka seeks new friends to offset frosty ties with India.Yunus took charge of Bangladesh last August after the toppling of autocratic ex-premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi after a student-led uprising.India was the biggest benefactor of Hasina’s government, and her ouster sent cross-border relations into a tailspin, culminating in Yunus choosing to make his first state visit to China -- India’s biggest Asian rival.Xi told Yunus on Friday that Beijing was "willing to work with Bangladesh to push bilateral cooperation to a new level," Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported."China... insists on remaining a good neighbour, good friend and good partner to Bangladesh, based on mutual trust," Xi said, according to CCTV.The Chinese leader reportedly said Beijing and Dhaka should "firmly support each other" on core interests and backed Bangladesh on issues including safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.He added that the two countries would explore cooperation in infrastructure construction, water conservancy and the digital, marine and environmental sectors.Dhaka said this week that Yunus’s China visit showed that Bangladesh was "sending a message".The 84-year-old Nobel laureate is expected to return home on Saturday after holding several other high-level meetings in the Chinese capital.Several agreements are expected to be signed on economic and technical assistance, cultural and sports cooperation, and media collaboration between the two countries, according to the Bangladeshi administration.Talks are also expected to touch on Bangladesh’s immense population of Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled a violent military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017.China has acted as a mediator between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the past to broker the repatriation of the persecuted minority, although efforts stalled because of Myanmar’s unwillingness to have them returned.Senior figures in the Indian and Bangladeshi governments have traded barbs ahead of Yunus’s sojourn to Beijing.Those tensions have almost fully halted travel by Bangladeshis to India for medical tourism, thousands of whom crossed the border each year to seek care in their larger neighbour.Dhaka’s top foreign ministry bureaucrat said this week that talks in Beijing would touch on the establishment of a Chinese "Friendship Hospital" in Bangladesh.Yunus’s caretaker administration has the unenviable task of instilling democratic reforms ahead of new elections expected by mid-2026.It has requested -- so far unsuccessfully -- that India allow Hasina’s extradition to face charges of crimes against humanity for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that toppled her government.Yunus has also sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bid to reset relations, with both expected to be at the same regional summit in Bangkok next month.His government has yet to receive a response, with Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar saying the request was "under review". Bangladesh Ex-PM Accused Of Plotting To Overthrow Govt (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [3/28/2025 3:06 AM, Staff, 931K]
Bangladeshi police said Friday they had filed a new criminal case against ousted premier Sheikh Hasina over an alleged plot to overthrow the government that replaced her.
Hasina is currently exiled in neighbouring India, her autocratic regime’s biggest patron and benefactor, after she was overthrown in a student-led revolution last August.
Numerous criminal indictments have been issued against her and top loyalists of her Awami League party, including over a crackdown by security forces that killed hundreds of demonstrators during last year’s unrest.
The latest case centres on a virtual meeting attended by nearly 600 Awami League members in December, which police said had conspired to "wage civil war in Bangladesh" with the aim of restoring Hasina to power.
"Many of them, both inside and outside the country, pledged to continue their fight until their last breath," the case documents stated.
Police spokesman Jasim Uddin Khan told AFP that charges had initially been filed against Hasina and 72 others, but that the number of defendants may increase as the investigation progressed.
"The number of participants in the virtual meeting was 577. We are investigating their roles, and if found complicit in the conspiracy, they will be charged," he said.
A report from the UN rights office earlier this year stated that Hasina’s government was responsible for systematic attacks and killings of protesters as it attempted to hold onto power last year.
Bangladesh is currently being led by an interim administration with Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, at the helm.
His caretaker government is tasked with implementing democratic reforms ahead of fresh elections slated to take place by June 2026. Bangladesh up against time to find stolen billions: Central bank governor (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [3/28/2025 12:00 AM, Staff, 18.2M]
Just days after the collapse of the Awami League government in Bangladesh in August 2024 following deadly street protests that culminated in the dramatic flight of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country’s newly appointed banking chief began a cat-and-mouse hunt for vast amounts of money smuggled abroad by its political and business elites.
Bangladesh Bank has set up 11 specialist teams to track the assets of 11 powerful families accused of laundering billions of dollars to the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore over the past decade.
The amounts of money in question are staggering. Just one of the 11 families under investigation is suspected of moving $15bn worth of funds out of Bangladesh, in one case withdrawing nearly 90 percent of a single bank’s deposits, leaving it close to collapse.
Ahsan Mansur, the former IMF economist who was appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank in the days following the government’s fall, is worried that much of the money could disappear if it is not found quickly enough. “We know that time is of the essence. Erosion of the asset base is a possibility,” he tells Al Jazeera.
The UK is his starting point. Mansur is now in talks with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and London law firms in a bid to trace and seize an estimated $25bn laundered from Bangladesh.“Many of these families have their assets … in London in particular, so we think we will find a lot of assets here,” he says.“Our whole purpose is at least [to] create awareness that the UK is a favourite destination of stolen assets all over the world, and Bangladesh is one of those countries from where it came,” he says.
A ‘moral imperative’
One person of interest is the former minister of land, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, who, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit) has discovered, owns more than $500m of real estate – mostly in London and Dubai.
Last year, the I-Unit revealed that Chowdhury’s family had bought up more than 360 luxury apartments in the UK, mostly in London.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission has frozen nearly 40 of his bank accounts and placed him under a travel ban, but the central bank is urgently seeking to freeze his overseas properties as well, to stop them from potentially being sold.
Chowdhury claims he is the victim of a politically motivated “witch-hunt” against people associated with the previous government and says his wealth was legitimately earned.
While Bangladesh Bank is focused on freezing assets, Mansur also wants the authorities in the UK and elsewhere to investigate the lawyers, bankers and estate agents who helped to move billions of dollars for the “oligarch” families.“The law is being flouted, agents or operators, banks in many cases, that are working with the criminals to rehabilitate them in this jurisdiction, which is not the only one. There are many others. I think it’s a moral imperative for the country authorities to take a tougher stance against those things.”
Amnesty for evidence?
Mansur estimates it could take up to five years to regain control of laundered funds and admits progress has been slow as the authorities grapple with the scale and complexity of the task, but says the UK government is helping.
Now he is considering offering plea bargains to those who helped to move money offshore in return for evidence against the kingpins, or even some form of amnesty scheme to bring the missing money back to Bangladesh.
Another key issue is that the complex task of tracking billions of dollars across multiple jurisdictions has been made harder following the change of government in the US.
A team of investigators from the US, who were due to start work in Bangladesh this year, was called off after President Donald Trump froze funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the early days of his new term.“They were supposed to be in Dhaka in full force, but it had to be cancelled … a number of our experts … had been funded by USAID, but it was stopped,” Mansur says. “That’s unfortunate for us, but that’s the way it is.” Bangladesh to Seal Deal with Musk’s Starlink (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [3/27/2025 3:57 PM, Mubashar Hasan, 53K]
On March 25, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government Mohammad Yunus announced that a commercial deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX-owned satellite internet network Starlink is expected to be reached within 90 days to provide internet services to Bangladesh.
According to Shafiqul Alam, Yunus’ press secretary, economic reasons underlie the decision to seal the deal. The creation of jobs and providing uninterrupted support to the global digital outsourcing industry, which provides livelihoods to many Bangladeshi freelancers, is a priority of the interim government.
"Last year, during the student-led people’s uprising, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina imposed an internet blackout for 11 days in Bangladesh., and thousands of Bangladeshi freelancers were hurt as they could not work," Shafiqul told The Diplomat.
The interim government "does not want a repeat of that type of situation," he said.
"We will make sure that through Starlink a freelancer even from a village in Bangladesh can benefit from the uninterrupted internet.".
Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Mexico, agrees with Shafiqul on the economic motivations underlying the interim government’s proposed deal with Starlink. However, he also sees it as a smart move by Yunus from a geopolitical standpoint. "Engaging with Musk and Starlink aligns Bangladesh with the U.S. tech leadership, potentially strengthening ties with Washington," Ansarey told The Diplomat.
Bangladesh is among a string of countries that is sealing deals with Musk’s companies to build relations with the Donald Trump presidency. Musk, who also owns X and Tesla, wields enormous influence over Trump. Signing deals with him is seen as a way to win favor with Trump.
Within days of Trump’s inauguration, governments and companies began making announcements to impress the Trump administration. India’s two biggest telecommunications providers, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, said they would bring Starlink’s internet services to the country. Another Trump backer, Coinbase, one of the U.S.’ largest cryptocurrency exchanges, received approval from India’s Financial Intelligence Unit to begin operations in the country. Saudi Arabia promised a $600 billion investment in the U.S.
Bangladesh’s overture to Starlink must be seen in this context.
While a deal with Starlink could put Bangladesh in a favorable light with Trump, whether it will prove beneficial in the long-run is doubtful. Shafquat Rabbee, a Bangladeshi American geopolitical analyst expressed skepticism over the "the longevity of such tactics.".
"It is too early to assess the eventual outcome," of such deals, he said.
Personal relationships and connections between leaders play an important role in international diplomacy and politics. For example, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s outreach to U.S. President George Bush soon after the inauguration of the latter’s presidency established a rapport that was pivotal in shaping the West’s collective action in invading Iraq. There are many other friendships at various levels between leaders and officials of various countries that have shaped global politics and several of these connections have worked quietly and behind the scenes.
According to Shafiqul, in a recent video call to Yunus, Musk conveyed that he is aware and appreciative of Yunus’ poverty reduction programs as well as his other philanthropic and social development endeavors.
The interim government will be hoping that these words of appreciation will pave the way for a closer equation between Yunus and the tech billionaire, culminating in better Bangladesh-U.S. relations.
Yunus and Trump have not had the best of relations in the past. There is a perception harnessed by some that Yunus’ friendship with the Clintons could have complicated his relations with Trump. However, such views appear to lack substance.
Yunus is a recipient of the US’ highest civilian award—the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also has strong friendships with many Republican senators, who stood up against his judicial harassment by Hasina. Yunus was also quick to congratulate Trump after his presidential victory.Nevertheless, there are powerful critics of Yunus’ government within the Trump administration. In a recent interview, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described Bangladesh as a "major area of concern" for the U.S., citing "the long-time unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities" in the country. She also spoke of the "threat of Islamic terrorists" in the country and linked Bangladesh to the idea of an Islamic Caliphate. The Yunus administration has protested Gabbard’s comment in strong terms.
Whether the Bangladeshi interim government’s proposed deal with Musk’s Starlink will open the door for Dhaka’s improved ties with Trump remains to be seen. Much will depend on how Musk’s equation with Trump pans out in the weeks and months ahead.
The Yunus administration will need to look for more routes and more stable ones to improve Bangladesh’s relations with the U.S. under Trump. Four Harrisburg-area Bhutanese Nepali men deported; in India now, in transit to Bhutan (WHTM ABC 27 Harrisburg)
WHTM ABC 27 Harrisburg [3/27/2025 6:03 PM, Seth Kaplan, 52868K]
A day after the families of six Bhutanese were notified they would be on flights to unconfirmed destinations within 72 hours, four of the men have already been deported, a community spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
"As of now, four out of the six individuals have already left the United States," said Tilak Niroula, chairperson of Harrisburg’s Bhutanese community. "This morning, I received a call from New Delhi [India] informing me that they are currently in transit there and have been told they will soon be departing for Paro, Bhutan.".
An ICE spokesperson couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Thursday evening.
A week earlier, Niroula joined local Democratic lawmakers alarmed at the detention of — at that time — five men, who they said were among tens of thousands of Bhutanese Nepali people in central Pennsylvania because they refugees unwelcome then — and still now — in Bhutan. A program introduced under former President George W. Bush, a Republican, and continued under former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
All the men, Niroula said, were in the United States legally. The sister of one man detained said he had served prison time, beginning more than a decade ago, after getting into a fight.
"Recent statements made regarding the Bhutanese aliens detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] have incorrectly indicated they are lawful permanent residents," an ICE spokesman said at the time. "Those claims are not true.".
Since late January, ICE — under President Trump — has been more aggressively pursuing deportation of not only undocumented immigrants, but in some cases people who were in the United States legally but had legal issues ICE has considered justification for deportation. Central Asia
China looks to deepen ties with Central Asia as U.S. trade tensions intensify (CNBC)
CNBC [3/28/2025 12:20 AM, Anniek Bao, 126906K]
The escalating trade war with the U.S. has propelled Beijing to further expand its ties with Central Asia, analysts say, as state-backed firms look to substitute U.S. imports and reroute exports.
In what appeared to be an attempt to downplay tariff worries, Chinese state media on Feb. 10 — the day when Beijing slapped an initial 10% tariff on U.S. energy imports — reported a state-led trip to Kyrgyzstan, where dozens of Chinese corporate representatives traveled to the neighboring country to explore partnership opportunities.
"The ongoing trade war is expected to further drive China to deepen economic cooperation with Central Asian countries," said Yunis Sharifli, a fellow at The China Global South Project, through diversifying export routes, increasing participation in regional connectivity projects, and expanding investment in infrastructure.
China has established itself as a leading trade partner and top foreign investor to the five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan — a bloc viewed as a key gateway for its Belt and Road Initiative, a major infrastructure program announced by President Xi Jinping during an official visit to Kazakhstan in 2013.
In a significant show of commitment, Beijing hosted the first in-person summit with Central Asian leaders in 2023, where Xi pledged to upgrade bilateral investment and trade links. The coalition leaders are expected to huddle again in June at the next summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The U.S., however, has long been sidelined in the region, despite Washington’s aim to absorb the region into its sphere of influence as stated in a State Department strategy document titled "U.S. Strategy for Central Asia 2019-2025: Advancing Sovereignty and Economic Prosperity.".
But its efforts have fallen short.
"Central Asia remains a diverse region that receives too little U.S. attention," said Curtis Chin, a former U.S. ambassador to the Asian Development Bank and senior fellow at Milken Institute.
"More than half the battle for influence is showing up in person [and] this is something China and Chinese businesses, often state-supported, know well, and Americans may be hard pressed to match.".‘Complementary trade’
Bilateral trade between Central Asia and China, the largest trade partner to the landlocked region, has been rising steadily in recent years, hitting a record high of $94.8 billion last year. This far outstripped Central Asia’s trade with the U.S., which hit just above $4 billion last year, according to CNBC’s calculation of the official data.
China’s exports to the region are mostly machinery, electronics, manufactured goods and vehicles while Central Asia supplies primarily natural resources, critical minerals and agricultural products to China — in what Sharifli described as a "complementary trade relationship.".
Notably, two-way trade between Central Asia and China, while on a steady climb, is still at relatively lower levels when compared to the total goods trade between China and the U.S. at $582.4 billion.
Kazakhstan, a vast steppe nation with rich energy and agricultural resources, led with $43.8 billion last year, ahead of its target to hit $40 billion in annual two-way trade with China by 2030 — a pledge made by the country’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2023.
Kyrgyzstan came in next with $22.7 billion in trade with China, then Uzbekistan with $13.8 billion, Turkmenistan with $10.6 billion and Tajikistan with $3.86 billion.
China’s imports from Kyrgyzstan surged over 30 times in 2024 and over 60 times in the first two months of 2025. Officials from Kyrgyzstan and China at a meeting earlier this month discussed boosting bilateral trade to up to $45 billion by 2030 as well as plans to accelerate construction of new checkpoint and opening of new flights, according to Kyrgyzstani local media reports.
In retaliation against U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of 20% new tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing has slapped additional duties of up to 15% on coal, natural gas, cotton, agricultural products from the U.S.
Chinese companies could "double down on cotton imports from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations," said Daniel Balazs, a research fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Though contribution of cotton imports from the region may not match that from the U.S., it could "mitigate some impact," he said.
China obtained 35% of its cotton imports from the U.S. as of 2024, according to data compiled by a team of economists at Nomura, who expect Beijing to soon switch to other substitute sources.
Energy, critical mineral, EVs
The bulk of growth in outbound Chinese investment in Central Asia over the years has mostly been in Kazakhstan and to a lesser degree Uzbekistan, according to the China Global Investment Tracker compiled by the American Enterprise Institute.
The investment mostly flowed to sectors such as transport and infrastructure, renewable energy projects and increasingly the electric vehicles sector.
Chinese leading electric vehicle maker BYD last month made its foray into Kazakhstan, making it the third Central Asian market where the automaker has made a foothold, following Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
BYD has started building what would be its largest factory outside China in Uzbekistan last year, with planned annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles.
The joint venture with Uzbek state-owned carmaker UzAuto Motors — which once had a JV with U.S. automaker General Motors until 2019 — is a "telling contrast," said Maximilian Hess, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
That showed Beijing’s continued interest in enhancing "supply chain linkages" with the region, said Hess.
Distracted Moscow
Beijing seized the opportunity to expand its influence in the region as its thirst for energy snapped back after the COVID-19 pandemic, and at a time when Russia, which had dominant influence in the former Soviet states, was caught up in a grinding war with Ukraine and subject to international sanctions.
Going forward, "part of the Russo-Chinese strategic relationship will consist of Russia accepting a greater role in the region for Beijing," said Matt Gertken, chief geopolitical strategist at BCA Research.
"Russia will struggle to maintain domestic stability and thus will lack the resources to maintain the same high degree of influence over Central Asia over the long run," Gertken said.
The five Central Asian nations have maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, refraining from supporting either Kyiv or Moscow, a move seen by some as a cautious distancing from Moscow.
Echoing that sentiment, Jeremy Chan, senior analyst at Eurasia Group, said, "Central Asian countries will also increasingly look toward China — and away from Russia — for their trade and investment needs.". Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 strikes central Kazakhstan, EMSC says (Reuters)
Reuters [3/27/2025 6:55 PM, Pretish M J, 41523K]
An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck central Kazakhstan on Friday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), EMSC said. Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality Celebrated At The European Parliament (Eurasia Review – opinion)
Eurasia Review [3/27/2025 12:20 PM, Staff, 206K]
On March 26, 2025, the European Parliament hosted an event titled Peace Love World, dedicated to marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. The commemoration was followed by a roundtable discussion, Neutral States as Peace Negotiators, focusing on the role of neutral countries in global diplomacy.
Since December 12, 1995, Turkmenistan has upheld its status as a permanently neutral state, a position officially recognized by the United Nations. Article 1 of the Turkmen Constitution enshrines this principle, stating:
"The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan is the basis of its domestic and foreign policy, aimed at strengthening stability and harmony in society, and developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the region and the entire world.".
The discussions at the European Parliament touched on key topics such as global peace efforts, cooperation with Europe, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, the upcoming Europe-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, the Trans-Caspian Corridor, and the broader need to enhance connectivity between Europe and Asia.
A high-level delegation from Turkmenistan participated in the event, including:
• Serdarov Ata – Chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, Member of the Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.
• Kulyyev Maksat – Chairman of the Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.
• Atayeva Enejan – Member of the Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.
Notable speakers included:
• Miroslav Slastan, Legal Advisor to the President of Slovakia, who highlighted the principles of neutrality, territorial integrity, diplomatic cooperation, and non-interference. He described a neutral state as one that does not align with military alliances and serves as a mediator in conflicts.
• Sapar Palvanov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium, who emphasized that neutrality is not passive but an active diplomatic tool that fosters peace and trust.
The moderator was Katarina Roth Nevedalova (European Parliament).
Palvanov elaborated: "This principle is not a passive stance. It is not absence. Nor is it withdrawal. Neutrality, as Turkmenistan has embraced it, is a powerful, active, and forward-looking philosophy—a bridge between states, a platform for peace, and a tool for building trust in an increasingly divided world.".
Ambassador Palvanov also provided concrete examples of Turkmenistan’s role in fostering peace, including its mediation in Tajikistan’s civil conflict and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he stated:
"We have sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including for children affected by the conflict, and Ukrainian companies continue to work in Turkmenistan, illustrating how neutrality does not mean silence—it means constructive engagement.".
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of preventive diplomacy, highlighting Turkmenistan’s role in establishing the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Ashgabat in 2007:
"UNRCCA is the world’s only UN centre specifically dedicated to conflict prevention, not crisis response. It reflects our conviction that early dialogue is more effective than post-conflict reconciliation—a view we promote regionally and globally.".
A Commitment to Peace and Trust
Kulyyev Maksat reinforced the idea that Turkmenistan’s neutrality is a proactive diplomatic stance, stating: "For Turkmenistan, Neutrality is not just a legal status. It is a peaceful, proactive approach to international relations.".
Atayeva Enejan emphasized that Turkmenistan remains the only country to have codified permanent neutrality in its constitution. She described it as a dynamic and constructive principle, aimed at fostering international dialogue, trust, and cooperation.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, where experts including Colin Stevens (CEO of EU Reporter), Derya Soysal, and Alberto Turkstra (Diplomatic World) … engaged with the speakers.
In conclusion, the discussions at the European Parliament underscored that neutrality is not a position of inaction but a strategic approach to peacebuilding. Turkmenistan’s model demonstrates how a country can maintain sovereignty while actively contributing to regional and global stability. As the world faces increasing geopolitical tensions, the Turkmen approach to neutrality offers a compelling alternative to polarization, fostering dialogue and cooperation in an era where these values are more necessary than ever. Indo-Pacific
For exiled Tibetans, U.S. funding was always about more than just aid (Washington Post)
Washington Post [3/28/2025 2:00 AM, Karishma Mehrotra, 6.9M]
Growing up, Namgyal Yemphel knew little of the world beyond his Tibetan settlement in southern India. But he recognized the USAID stamps on the sacks of flour that his family cherished for its sweetness, and on the tin barrels of oil, sturdy enough to keep for storing grain.
Decades later, the logo is still with him — on the laptop in his office at a Tibetan school, where the U.S. Agency for International Development has supplied computers, printers and projectors, as well as fruit, eggs and meat for student meals. Down the road, a hospital relies on USAID-provided blood-testing machines and X-ray equipment.
For decades, U.S. funding has helped tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees from China, with their thriving community across the border in India representing a small but symbolic counterweight to Beijing’s rising power. The future of that support is now in doubt after sweeping foreign aid cuts by President Donald Trump.
More than 80 percent of USAID programs have been slashed, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month, concluding that tens of billions of dollars had been spent “in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.”
Anna Kelly, the White House deputy press secretary, said Trump was “eliminating foreign aid that failed to put America First, and the Department of State is still reviewing all foreign aid programs at his direction.”
Funding to the exiled Tibetan government has been cut by a third, freezing projects worth $12 million annually, according to Penpa Tsering, the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
For many Tibetans, the loss is harder to quantify.“I don’t have any hard feelings for any country that decides to put its people first,” said Yemphel, 52, sitting in his sunlit principal’s office in the southern state of Karnataka. “But while you may save some money, you will lose moral authority.”
A ‘critical stage’
Chinese troops invaded Tibet in 1949, killing thousands of people and eventually annexing the Himalayan nation. After a failed revolt a decade later, the Dalai Lama — the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists — and 80,000 of his followers fled to the Indian city of Dharamshala, where the CTA is headquartered today.
When India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, urged state governments to provide land to the new refugees, Karnataka granted more than 3,000 acres of forest. Southern India is now home to the largest number of Tibetans in exile, and Mundgod is their largest settlement.
In autonomous communities like this one, Tibetans say, they have been able to pursue new economic opportunities while holding fast to their cultural identity. Inside gilded monasteries, rows of monks practice the guttural art of throat singing. On their days off, the robed men scroll Instagram in cafes and restaurants; Indian workers converse in Hindi with Tibetans drinking milkshakes and mojitos.
Nearly every compound — from a women’s cooperative that stitches school uniforms to a home for the elderly — bears the name of international benefactors: German Aid, the Dolma Fund from Nepal, and others.
From the start, American aid has been most pivotal. While the Central Intelligence Agency once trained Tibetan guerrilla fighters, current U.S. programs impart far different skills.“We were using rope weapons and the CIA trained us in arms,” said Jigme Tsultrim, the CTA’s chief representative in the region. “Now, the U.S. is teaching us health information systems.”
The CTA has become a fully formed government in exile, with a parliament, auditors, a public service branch and an election commission. Tsering said the Trump administration’s cuts have now come at “a very critical stage in our history and our struggle.”
At 89 years old, the Dalai Lama is less able to travel and appeal for international support. Beijing has intensified efforts to control his succession and, since 2010, has refused to engage in direct talks.
The U.S. recognizes Tibet as a part of China. The State Department says American officials have “pressed Chinese authorities ... to allow Tibetans to preserve, practice, teach, and develop their religious traditions and language without interference.”‘Music to China’s ears’
Washington initially froze four projects for the Tibetan community in exile, but after lobbying from Tsering, he said, $2 million in funding was reinstated.
Three other projects remain stalled, including $7 million for strengthening Tibetan health, education and cultural institutions; $2 million annually for digitizing Tibetan Buddhist scriptures; and $3 million per year for a program to modernize local governance.
Tsering, known as the Sikyong, said the programs weren’t charity, but strategic investments.“This will be music to China’s ears,” Tsering said in the CTA’s New Delhi office. For the U.S. to counter Beijing, he added, “we can’t think only about programs that inflict pain, but also programs like ours.”
Kelly, the White House official, said “no one has been tougher on China than President Trump.”
U.S. backing for the CTA has historically had broad support in Washington: President George W. Bush oversaw the passage of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002; nearly two decades later, in 2020, Trump signed a bill protecting the right of Tibetans to choose the next Dalai Lama — the only law of its kind in the world.
Critics have long contended that America’s foreign aid system has failed to generate economic growth in recipient nations, and in some places has created a culture of dependency. But Tsultrim said the programs suspended here were designed to teach self-sufficiency.“The U.S. did not hand us the fish,” he said, sitting in the Mundgod settlement office, which oversees almost 17,000 people across 4,000 acres. USAID, he said, had encouraged the community to pursue business development services and market cooperatives.
Tsering said the CTA had enough funds to cover the first three months of frozen aid and was committed to preserving essential programs, including student scholarships, support for new refugees and public health programs.
Yemphel said his school is scaling back training for teachers and fending off contractors looking to be paid for construction work. He hopes that cuts to student meals aren’t imminent.“We will be relentless in our efforts to reach out to the State Department,” Tsering said.
People in Mundgod also expressed concern about Trump’s recent dismantling of Voice of America, which he has accused of “leftist bias,” saying it remained a critical source of information for Tibetans still in China.
Tenzin Lodoe, a secretary in the Mundgod settlement office who fled to India when he was 11, recalled listening to VOA on his shortwave radio as a small child, hungry for news about the Dalai Lama and crackdowns by Chinese troops. His sisters and brothers back home — whom he hasn’t been able to speak to for more than eight years — were likely to still be “getting real information” from the broadcast, he said.
The freeze on aid has also endangered the work of groups that document Chinese political repression and human rights abuses, including the China Dissent Monitor at Freedom House.“As far as China is concerned, the wholesale dismantling of USAID is the gift that keeps on giving,” said Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Tibet’s exile community has already been squeezed by Beijing’s global ascension. Nepal, once a haven, has increasingly cracked down on Tibetan protests. And while India has remained a refuge for the CTA, it has also sought to avoid confrontation with China, at times limiting Tibetans’ political activism.
The community here has shrunk from over 100,000 in the 1990s to 70,000 today, as China cracked down on escape routes and more Tibetans migrated to the West, according to CTA officials.
For all their challenges, “Tibetans are not starving to death,” said Yemphel, as his middle and high school students painted signs representing the independence movement. The aid cuts, he said, were not existential, but could have a generational impact.“In the innocent minds of the children, this shakes the core belief that America stands behind Tibet,” he said. Myanmar junta chief to join BIMSTEC leaders’ summit in rare trip abroad (Reuters)
Reuters [3/28/2025 1:33 AM, Devjyot Ghoshal and Panu Wongcha-um, 5.2M]
Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will join a regional leaders’ summit in Thailand next week where he is seeking high-level bilateral meetings, three sources with direct knowledge told Reuters, in a rare visit to a Southeast Asian country since seizing power in coup that led to a civil war.
Min Aung Hlaing is the subject of widespread western sanctions and is barred from attending summits of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN due to the Myanmar military’s failure to implement an agreed peace plan with the bloc.
He will join the April 3-4 summit in Bangkok of the BIMSTEC grouping of mostly South Asian countries, where the Myanmar delegation is seeking bilateral meetings with leaders and top officials, according to the sources, who declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to media.
The meetings being sought include ones with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammed Yunus, the sources said.
"They have been reaching out asking for meetings," one of the sources said, referring to Myanmar officials.
A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government could not immediately be reached for comment.
Asked by Reuters if the Myanmar general was attending, Thailand’s foreign ministry said all leaders of BIMSTEC member countries have confirmed their attendance.
ESCALATING CRISIS
Myanmar has been in crisis since the military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking mass protests that escalated into an armed rebellion against the junta. More than a third of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.
The trip to Thailand to join other leaders would be significant for Min Aung Hlaing, who has sought to gain legitimacy at home and abroad for his plans to return the country to democracy via an election that has been derided by critics as a sham to perpetuate army rule.
The junta chief on Thursday said the election would be held in December, promising a free and fair vote and to transfer state power to the winning party.
Min Aung Hlaing is regarded by many countries as a pariah as head of a military accused of committing widespread atrocities as it battles to hold power and contain a widening rebellion. The military denies wrongdoing.
His trips overseas have been rare, mostly to Russia, which he visited this month, and to China late last year for a sub-regional summit.
His travel could be limited further following an announcement in November by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that a warrant for his arrest would be sought for crimes against humanity in the alleged persecution of the Rohingya, a mainly Muslim minority. Myanmar has denied the allegations.
BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, includes Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Twitter
Afghanistan
Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office@amnestysasia
[3/27/2025 5:26 AM, 99.9K followers, 195 retweets, 320 likes]
Afghan nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers in Pakistan, are being harassed, detained, and forced out of their homes. Since 2023, over 840,000 Afghan refugees have been pushed to leave. As part of the deportation drive, authorities are now ramping up efforts to expel Afghan nationals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi—two key cities where they seek protection and process immigration cases. Amnesty International notes that many in these cities, particularly undocumented and Afghan Citizen Card holders stand to be deported back to Afghanistan. This crackdown is cruel, puts countless lives at risk, and violates the principle of non-refoulement. Pakistan must stop this harassment and unlawful deportations. #StopDeportationsNow #UndoTheDeadline
Habib Khan@HabibKhanT
[3/27/2025 5:04 PM, 247.8K followers, 9 retweets, 23 likes]
A Taliban preacher is urging people to stop taking women to doctors and to stop demanding education for them, claiming both are unnecessary. He says women in Afghanistan’s remote mountainous regions give birth without hospitals and are doing just fine.
Michael Kugelman@MichaelKugelman
[3/27/2025 9:50 AM, 219.2K followers, 27 retweets, 45 likes]
New developments suggest a change in US approaches to the Taliban since the group returned to power—a change attributable to the Trump administration’s transactionalism, but perhaps also in part to geopolitical factors. This week for @ForeignPolicy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/26/trump-taliban-afghanistan-us-engagement/ Lynne O’Donnell@lynnekodonnell
[3/27/2025 11:44 PM, 27.5K followers]
Concern grows for safety of #Afghan woman and trans friend detained by #Taliban https:// @miss_rai1 https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/taliban-arrests-lgbtq-activists-ravish-afghanistan-kabul-b2722520.html
Yalda Hakim@SkyYaldaHakim
[3/27/2025 9:46 AM, 218K followers, 67 retweets, 203 likes]
1286 days since the Taliban banned teenage girls from school. 826 days since the Taliban banned women from going to university. #LetAfghanGirlsLearn Pakistan
Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan@PakPMO
[3/27/2025 4:38 AM, 3.7M followers, 9 retweets, 61 likes]
A delegation of Huawei led by Chief Executive Officer Ethen Sun calls on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. March 27, 2025.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan@ForeignOfficePk
[3/27/2025 6:09 AM, 481.3K followers, 7 retweets, 18 likes]
During a ceremony at Islamabad Airport, the Russian Ambassador officially presented 30,000 kilograms of humanitarian aid to the people of Pakistan via the National Disaster Management Authority. A special aircraft from the Russian government transported the aid from Moscow to Pakistan. Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Disaster Management Authority, and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society were in attendance at the airport. Mr. Albert Khorev, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation:
Emphasized the strong friendship between Pakistan and Russia;
Recalled Russia’s humanitarian support to Pakistan following the two earthquakes in 2005 and the floods in 2022;
Stated that this latest shipment of humanitarian aid was intended to assist relief efforts in Pakistan.
Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, the Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe, expressed heartfelt thanks to the Russian Government and its people for their humanitarian aid;
Noted that this support symbolizes the strong friendship and solidarity shared between our two countries.
The National Disaster Management Authority transferred the aid to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society for further distribution.
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[3/28/2025 12:51 AM, 76.3K followers, 1 retweet, 15 likes]
Court in Islamabad grants bail to journalist @awaheedmurad after rejecting FIA’s request to extend the remand after which lawyers @ImaanZHazir and @AdvHadiali applied the bail which was accepted -- Court has ordered his immediate release
Ashok Swain@ashoswai
[3/27/2025 2:57 PM, 621.6K followers, 871 retweets, 2.1K likes]
Despite court order, Asim Munir’s security agency didn’t let PTI party leaders meet their leader, Imran Khan who is in jail. Pakistan’s security agency instead of maintaining peace and security in Baluchistan is busy killing country’s democracy and constitution.
Hamid Mir@HamidMirPAK
[3/27/2025 2:06 PM, 8.6M followers, 11 retweets, 78 likes]
FO downplays US bill seeking sanctions on Pakistani officials, says doesn’t align with current positive dynamics https://www.dawn.com/news/1900680
Hamid Mir@HamidMirPAK
[3/27/2025 7:16 AM, 8.6M followers, 119 retweets, 518 likes]
Killers of 5 passengers near Gwadar are creating problems for those helpless families who are raising voice for the recovery of their missing persons. These terrorists are strengthening the narrative of those who are responsible for enforced disappearances India
President of India@rashtrapatibhvn
[3/28/2025 2:16 AM, 26.5M followers, 69 retweets, 425 likes]
President Droupadi Murmu hosted Members of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim for breakfast at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.
Dr. S. Jaishankar@DrSJaishankar
[3/27/2025 4:14 AM, 3.4M followers, 233 retweets, 882 likes]
My remarks at the conference "Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda", hosted by @IndEmbMoscow and @Russian_Council. https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNGaLMBannKj
Ashok Swain@ashoswai
[3/27/2025 4:38 AM, 621.6K followers, 8 retweets, 28 likes]
China is going to start building the Medog Dam on Brahmaputra-Jamuna in 2029 - China has not shared any information about the dam and its impacts with Bangladesh or India. Both Bangladesh and India are nervous but NOT cooperating on this matter. https://scroll.in/article/1077584/chinas-medog-dam-a-double-edged-sword-for-south-asia NSB
Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh@ChiefAdviserGoB
[3/27/2025 11:28 AM, 128.9K followers, 159 retweets, 1.5K likes]
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived in Beijing around 10:20pm local time on Thursday. Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of China, received him at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh@ChiefAdviserGoB
[3/27/2025 7:04 AM, 128.9K followers, 46 retweets, 783 likes]
Madame WU Xiaoling, Former Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China meets Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of Boao Forum Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, China on Thursday.
Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh@ChiefAdviserGoB
[3/27/2025 3:43 AM, 128.9K followers, 63 retweets, 692 likes]
Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, meets Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of Boao Forum Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, China on Thursday.
Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh@ChiefAdviserGoB
[3/27/2025 2:53 AM, 128.9K followers, 69 retweets, 812 likes]
Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of Bo ao Forum for Asia and former UN Secretary General meets Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of Boao Forum Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, China on Thursday.
Jon Danilowicz@JonFDanilowicz
[3/27/2025 8:35 AM, 14.7K followers, 6 retweets, 50 likes]
This is a welcome move from @StateDept to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Bangladesh. Now @WFP @Refugees and others must continue to look for others who can help meet the needs of the Rohingya while all redouble the effort to find a more durable solution to this crisis.Sabria Chowdhury Balland@sabriaballand
[3/27/2025 12:57 PM, 7.9K followers]
A sedition case has been filed against Sheikh Hasina&575 others on charges of conspiring to overthrow the interim gov&waging a civil war.According to the case statement, a civil war was allegedly planned during an online meeting titled ‘Joy Bangla Brigade’ on March 19.
Sabria Chowdhury Balland@sabriaballand
[3/27/2025 12:52 PM, 7.9K followers]
The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations has reversed its decision to reduce food aid for #Rohingyas residing in #Bangladesh’s refugee camps, following concerns over the impact of the cut. Camp residents will now receive a monthly food allocation of $12 per person.M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[3/28/2025 1:19 AM, 8K followers, 5 likes]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Sri Lanka on a State visit from 4 - 6 April 2025, where he will hold discussions with President of Sri Lanka, senior dignitaries & political leaders. Welcome to Sri Lanka
M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[3/27/2025 11:11 AM, 8K followers, 13 retweets, 66 likes]
TNA politicians while want presidential pardon for convicted LTTE terrorists for mass murder calling them as “Political prisoners “ applauds unilateral sanctions on our war veterans. What kind of hypocrisy is this?
M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[3/27/2025 8:16 AM, 8K followers, 39 retweets, 143 likes]
Reconciling Truth and Justice, A United Path Forward for Sri Lanka The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), once considered one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations in the world, remains a proscribed entity in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, India, Australia, and Malaysia. This designation reflects the horrific atrocities committed by the LTTE against innocent civilians in Sri Lanka, transcending ethnic and religious boundaries Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim alike.
The LTTE’s brutality was systematic and inhumane. Children were forcefully recruited as soldiers, denied the right to education and a future. Suicide bombings became their signature weapon, devastating villages, mosques, temples, and vital national infrastructure including the Central Bank, the airport, and the harbor. From the massacre of innocent monks in Aranthalawa to the slaughter of worshippers in Kaththankudy mosque and the horror of Dollar and Kent farm massacres, the scars of their terror remain deeply etched in our collective memory.Their violence was indiscriminate. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India, President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Tamil political leaders, academics, journalists, and public servants were all victims. The LTTE also ethnically cleansed Sinhalese and Muslims from parts of the North and East. No one was spared.
While the entire country suffered during the nearly three-decade conflict, the Tamil community bore the brunt of it as the North and East became the main theatre of war. The LTTE, however, extended the conflict to the South and Colombo, unleashing a reign of terror across the island.
When the war ended in 2009, all Sri Lankans exhaled a collective sigh of relief. And among those who benefited most from the end of the war were the Tamil civilians themselves,liberated from the grip of a violent separatist movement and given an opportunity to reintegrate into national life. Today, Tamils are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s social, economic, and political fabric, entitled to equal protection under the Constitution.
Let me be clear, Sri Lanka is not a perfect nation, but is there any country in the world that is? What we are is a functioning democracy with universal franchise, free healthcare, free education, and a social safety net that does not discriminate between ethnic or religious groups. Sri Lanka is a nation in progress rebuilding from the past, and striving to ensure that all its citizens enjoy peace, dignity, and equality.
No one denies that there was collateral damage during the final stages of the war. War is, by nature, tragic. But the fact remains: the State of Sri Lanka worked tirelessly to protect and support the entrapped civilian population, even while knowing that a portion of those resources would inevitably be diverted by the LTTE to fuel its war machinery. Throughout the conflict, the government ensured the delivery of food, medicine, and essential services via a dedicated Essential Services Department headed by a Commissioner. Through government agents operating in LTTE controlled areas, free public services including healthcare and education, were continued.
That is why, in the final phase of the conflict, it was the civilians who ran towards the Sri Lankan armed forces, not away from them. They knew where safety lay even while the LTTE was using them as human shields until the very last moment. With all our faults, Sri Lanka is not an apartheid state. We did not conquer someone else’s land. We defended our territorial integrity. We did not starve our people, nor does our Constitution permit us to do so.
Despite the LTTE’s defeat, its vast international network which raised funds, procured arms, and lobbied foreign governments remains active in different avatars. Many of these actors, operating under the guise of human rights activism, continue to promote a separatist agenda, misleading a new generation of youth and perpetuating divisions. And yet, how many of them have been sanctioned, prosecuted, or even called out by the very countries that now rush to impose one-sided sanctions on Sri Lanka’s war veterans? This is the hypocrisy we must confront.
Sri Lanka chose a path of reconciliation. We did not prosecute 12,197 surrendered LTTE cadres. Instead, we rehabilitated them, gave them a second chance, and reintegrated them into society. In recent years, nearly 27 convicted LTTE operatives including those responsible for the Central Bank bombing were pardoned by the President in an effort to build trust, promote reconciliation, and move forward as a united nation.
Reconciliation takes time. It requires patience, understanding, and a collective effort from all communities. It cannot be achieved through external pressure, selective condemnation, or unilateral sanctions that only serve to embolden extremist voices and satisfy diaspora vote-bank politics abroad.
The call to release convicted LTTE members as “political prisoners” while simultaneously punishing those who fought to liberate our nation from terrorism is not only unjust, it is profoundly immoral. It ignores the suffering of all Sri Lankans and undermines the sacrifices made to restore peace.
When the war was on, we all suffered. When the war ended, that suffering ended. What we need now is not a return to the dark days of division, but a determined march towards a future where we address the genuine grievances of our people Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim, Burgher, and others, not through the lens of separatism, but through unity, equality, and justice.
Let us reject extremism in all its forms, let us not get caught to the vicious agenda of few separatist diaspora ideologies, resist the distortions of the past, and work together to build a Sri Lanka that celebrates its diversity and stands tall as one nation. Central Asia
MFA Kazakhstan@MFA_KZ
[3/28/2025 1:25 AM, 56.6K followers, 1 retweet, 1 like]
Warmest congratulations to @UNESCAP on the occasion of the 78th Anniversary. #Kazakhstan is committed to advancing economic, social and environmental cooperation in Asia-Pacific to meet our shared sustainable development ambitions.
MFA Kazakhstan@MFA_KZ
[3/27/2025 8:55 AM, 56.6K followers, 7 retweets, 7 likes]
Preparations for the Central Asia-European Union Summit Discussed at the Ministerial Meeting in Ashgabat
Peter Leonard@Peter__Leonard
[3/27/2025 9:25 AM, 21.5K followers, 5 likes]
From the archives: Demonstrator in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, dragged away under gaze of Lenin statue
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[3/27/2025 12:50 PM, 214.8K followers, 3 retweets, 14 likes]
Additionally President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals to enhance support for talented youth. An international school will launch this year with a global standards curriculum. A national program offering intensive training sessions will prepare students for Ivy League universities, with the best of them securing internships. Efforts will continue to support foreign-educated graduates, offering broad opportunities at home.Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[3/27/2025 12:07 AM, 214.8K followers, 9 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev reviewed progress on developing nuclear energy, emphasizing strategic planning for future energy needs. By 2030, the goal is to increase green energy to over 50% of the total energy balance, with nuclear energy as a key long-term source. Plans are underway to build a small-capacity nuclear power plant, with a roadmap in development. A Joint Action Plan with the IAEA ensures strict oversight at every stage, aligning with global best practices and safety standards.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[3/27/2025 11:24 AM, 214.8K followers, 1 retweet, 8 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev held an expanded meeting on state asset privatization, setting targets for 2025. Plans include allowing entrepreneurs to purchase leased properties after five years, re-auctioning certain assets with benefits, merging and rebidding small unsold land plots, and abolishing mandatory khokimiyat ownership of markets. Additionally, 28 major state enterprises will enter international markets this year, with 10 more planned for public trading in 2026.
Bakhtiyor Saidov@FM_Saidov
[3/27/2025 1:21 PM, 12.5K followers, 6 retweets, 8 likes]
Privileged to be welcomed by the President of Turkmenistan H.E. Serdar Berdimuhamedov today in Ashgabat. Delivered the warmest greetings of the President of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The enduring bond and mutual trust between the leaders of our two nations serve as a strong pillar for deepening the UZ-TM Strategic Partnership across all sectors, fostering greater cooperation and prosperity.
Saida Mirziyoyeva@SMirziyoyeva
[3/27/2025 12:33 PM, 21.8K followers, 4 retweets, 27 likes]
I admire women who start businesses despite challenges. Their perseverance drives families, society, and country forward. Aligned with the President’s vision, the Hamroh program supports women with mentorship, training, and financial aid. Every success story strengthens us!{End of Report} To subscribe to the SCA Morning Press Clips, please email SCA-PressOfficers@state.gov. Please do not reply directly to this email.