ISLAMABAD, 10 December 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan does not want to take any sides in the US-China ‘cold war’ but instead wants to reduce the growing tensions between the two.

Addressing the Islamabad Conclave 2021, which was themed ‘A Peaceful and Prosperous South Asia’, PM Imran stated that deteriorating US-China relations, which are heading towards a cold war-like situation, is something Pakistan needs to stop.

“We should not be in any bloc,” he maintained, recalling the previous Cold War, where joining a bloc was not beneficial for Pakistan.

The premier’s remarks come a day after Islamabad decided to skip the summit on democracy being convened by US President Joe Biden on December 9 and 10.

ISLAMABAD, 10 December 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said “we need to put human security at the center of national security strategies as a departure from security-centric polices to move the region towards development and prosperity.”

Addressing inaugural session of Islamabad Conclave 2021 at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), he said “Pakistan has shifted its focus to geo-economics.”

He said that connectivity is the new buzz word and it can provide us enormous opportunities for national and regional development.

The foreign minister said “regional cooperation is a must for South Asia to prosper.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi further said “SAARC needs to be revitalized by freeing it from narrow political agendas.”

ISLAMABAD, 10 December 2021, (TON): Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said that Pakistan and China had signed 23 new friendship and cooperation agreements this year which was unprecedented.

He said while addressing the Forum on Cooperation between China and Pakistan Friendship Provinces and Cities “one of the most promising aspects of our bilateral relations is now increasing people to people contacts between our two countries. I’m very pleased to note that ever expanding cooperation between the provinces and cities, our countries is further solidifying.”

Pakistan Embassy Beijing and Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries jointly organized the forum.

Under the theme of Win-win cooperation for common development, Pakistan and China exchanged views on issues of common interest and issued a Joint Declaration. Ambassador Haque informed that both the countries have 43 provinces and cities including lakes and parks which were closely connected to friendship relationship.

He added “this year alone, we have signed all together 23 new friendship agreements which is unprecedented.”

He congratulated the leadership and officials of all these provinces and cities for making this history and expressed the confidence this would provide a solid and strong foundation for the development of future ties between the two countries in all fields and help jointly build China-Pakistan community of shared destiny in the new era.

Ambassador Haque said that this year, the two countries were celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of their diplomatic relations.

NEW DELHI, 10 December 2021, (TON): Union leaders said “Indian farmers called off a year-long protest yesterday after the government conceded a clutch of demands, including assurances to consider guaranteed prices for all produce, instead of just rice and wheat.”

The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last month “he would roll back three farm laws, seeking to end the longest-running farmers' protest that galvanized millions of growers who remained resolute in opposing the legislation.”

Despite the government's climbdown, thousands of farmers had continued to camp out on major highways leading to New Delhi to press for other demands such as the guaranteed prices, as well as for legal action against protesters to be dropped.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, a senior farm union leader said "we have received a letter from the government which has conceded to our requests.”

Farmers' leaders would meet on January 15 to review progress on the government's assurances, Rajewal told a news conference.

NAYPYITAW, 10 December 2021, (TON): Cambodian strongman Hun Sen will travel to Myanmar for talks in January, his spokesman said, becoming the first international leader to visit the country since its military seized power in a coup.

Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in February.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia with an iron grip for over three decades, pledged to work with the Myanmar junta, despite widespread international efforts to pile diplomatic pressure on the military.

Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin held talks with Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, where he formally extended the invitation.

Eang Sophalleth, spokesman for the Cambodian premier, said the visit is scheduled for January 7 and 8.

The invitation comes as Cambodia attempts to bring Myanmar back into the fold of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after a humiliating snub by the regional bloc.

NAYPYITAW, 10 December 2021, (TON): The Myanmar Military Government has said that it has largely restored national stability after recent civil unrest and attracting local and foreign investments to jump-start economic growth and job creation.

The Ministry of Information (MOI) and Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) said in a joint statement that with the restoration of stability, economic recovery was now a top priority as the Government prepares for multi-party elections to be held by August 2023.

The Union Election Commission has reviewed weaknesses, fraud and malpractices in the 8 November 2020 elections. It has held 3 consultations with political parties between February and November 2021.

A fourth consultation will be held this month to discuss the Proportional Representation System.

DHAKA, 10 December 2021, (TON): Human Rights Watch said, marking the International Human Rights Day that Bangladesh authorities should stop tormenting families and provide information on the whereabouts of their loved ones disappeared by security forces.

Human Rights Watch has documented 86 cases of victims in Bangladesh who were forcibly disappeared since 2009 when the Sheikh Hasina-led government took office, and who remain missing.

The Bangladesh government has repeatedly denied that security forces’ routinely commit enforced disappearances.

‘The Bangladesh government should mark International Human Rights Day by welcoming an independent international investigation into the whereabouts of the victims of enforced disappearance who remain missing,’ said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

DHAKA, 10 December 2021, (TON): A total of 50 Bangladesh Election Commission officials are to be trained at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi as part of a capacity development programme.

In the first phase from November 29 to December 10 this year, 25 EC officials underwent training and the second batch of as many officials will be joining the training programme starting December 20.

India's Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra addressed the Bangladesh EC officials at the IIIDEM.

IIIDEM, under the aegis of the Election Commission of India, is organising the capacity-development programme.

This is the first-ever international batch being hosted by IIIDEM on a cost-sharing basis with the Bangladesh EC Secretariat.

Addressing the officials, Chandra said “IIIDEM, as the dedicated training institute of the Election Commission of India, has been organising a series of such capacity development programmes for officials from various election management bodies, as per a statement issued by the Indian Election Commission.”

KABUL, 09 December 2021, (TON): Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan met with Deborah Lyons, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan.

In the meeting, the UN Special Representative provided information on his recent visit to the United States and his meetings with World Bank officials.

She added “we pay teachers and health workers and try to buy food from inside Afghanistan and distribute it to the people, stressing the need to provide security for aid agencies.”

During the meeting, Abdul Salam Hanafi said “the Islamic Emirate is committed to ensuring the security of donor institutions and national security is ensured inside Afghanistan, everyone is equal before the law and education for all is our policy.”

Abdul Salam Hanafi added “we call on the international community to complete the in-completed projects, Islamic Emirate to help young talents, in addition to finding employment, be prevented from escaping.”

DUSHANBE, 09 December 2021, (TON): The press service of the parliament said “deputies of the lower house of parliament of Tajikistan have ratified an agreement with Russia on the creation of the United Regional Air Defense System. The draft document was presented to the deputies by the Minister of Defense of the republic Sherali Mirzo.”

According to her “the meeting considered and approved the Agreement be-tween Tajikistan and the Russian Federation of April 27, 2021 on the creation of the United Regional Air Defense System.”

Presenting the draft agreement, Mirzo noted that the document “meets the interests of both parties to ensure the safety of the airspace.” He also pointed to the growing threats in the region, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by terrorist and extremist organizations.

According to the document, the parties are creating an air defense system, which will become an integral part of the joint air defense system of the CIS member states.