KABUL, 29 November 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund issued a decree ordering the Central Bank to unblock the bank accounts of those former government officials who have not left the country.

In September, the Islamic Emirate froze the bank accounts of former government officials and now has decided to free the accounts of those who are still in the country.

Based on the decree, the Central Bank must also pay the salaries of former government officials who still work in government departments.

The decree also directs the Central Bank to unblock the accounts of the national assembly members, but it said they will not be paid a salary.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, a member of the cultural commission of the Information and Culture Ministry, said “the Central Bank is obliged to free the accounts of those former government officials who now work with the Islamic Emirate and pay their salaries. It is also ordered to release the accounts of those former government officials who are in Afghanistan.”

Based on the decree, the properties of those former government officials who have left the country and have not handed over their responsibilities to the current government will remain frozen. However, their relatives’ properties and accounts will be freed.

ISLAMABAD, 29 November 2021, (TON): President Dr Arif Alvi met with President of Iran Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

President Alvi congratulated his counterpart on assuming the office of the President of Iran after his victory in the recent elections.

Alvi underlined that Pakistan considered Iran as an important Muslim neighbour and brother based on deep-rooted historical, linguistic, religious and cultural linkages between the two countries.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with regular high-level interactions that had reinforced different avenues of bilateral cooperation.

President Alvi highlighted that Pakistan prioritised geo-economic prosperity and regional connectivity. He expressed satisfaction at the recent operationalisation of the International Road Transport (TIR) shipments from Pakistan to Turkey and Azerbaijan, which would benefit the entire ECO region.

While referring to the recently held Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting in Tehran, Alvi underscored the importance of regular meetings for bilateral mechanisms for trade and economy. He also emphasised utilising the barter trade mechanism in this respect.

President Alvi thanked Iran’s consistent support to the Kashmir cause, particularly from the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

ISLAMABAD, 29 November 2021, (TON): Officials familiar with the development told media “Islamabad and New Delhi have locked horns over the modalities of shipment of Indian wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan as both neighbours struggle to find a common strategy for humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan.”

Last week, Pakistan decided to allow India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and other humanitarian goods to Afghanistan through the Wagah border in a move Islamabad said was made on "exceptional basis" keeping in view the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.

The modalities for the transportation of India assistance were shared with the Indian government through its mission in Islamabad. As per modalities, Pakistan had proposed transportation of wheat on Pakistani trucks to be operated by the United Nations.

The Pakistani trucks under the banner of UN would load wheat at the Wagah crossing and then take it to Afghanistan.

The shipment charges would be paid by the Indian government. India has to complete the transportation within 30 days of the commencement of first shipment. It is estimated that about 1,200 trucks would be needed to ship 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat.

DHAKA, 29 November 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reaffirmed Bangladesh's position for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and the viable state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In a message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the prime minister today reiterated Bangladesh's unswerving support for the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine.

In her message, Sheikh Hasina said "we firmly support the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital".

The premier added "on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Bangladesh joins the international community in reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle for inalienable rights.”

She said “the country's constitution enshrines Bangladesh's principled position to stand by the oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism, or racialism.”

She urged the international community to work in unison to find a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Palestinian crisis.

DHAKA, 29 November 2021, (TON): The minister said that Bangladesh's economic and social development over the past 10 years is a "miracle”.

HONDA Taro, parliamentary vice minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on Sunday said that Japan would always stand by Bangladesh and continue its cooperation for the further development of the country in future.

ITO Naoki, ambassador of Japan in Dhaka, read out the special message from HONDA Taro during the opening session of International Investment Summit Bangladesh 2021 organized by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the two-day event at a hotel in the capital.

He added "under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the outbreak is now under control. Bangladesh has achieved a remarkable economic recovery among countries in South Asia.”

DHAKA, 29 November 2021, (TON): Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to make an official visit to Maldives later this year.

The upcoming visit by PM Sheikh Hasina was announced by Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, who paid a courtesy call of Maldivian Vice President Faisal Naseem at the President’s Office.

During the call, Faisal and Momen discussed the close bilateral ties between Maldives and Bangladesh, emphasizing that the numerous interactions between the two countries' top officials this year have helped to improve relations. 

Continuing the conversation, they explored avenues of cooperation between the two countries, ahead of an official visit to the Maldives later this year by PM Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen calls on Maldivian Vice President Faisal Naseem (C) at the President’s Office on November 28, 2021. (Photo/President's Office)

Speaking about his recent official visit to Bangladesh, Faisal said that seeking solutions to the need for human resources in the health sector had been a key priority of his visit, as the need for healthcare staff had considerably increased with the decentralization efforts of the Maldivian administration.

He said that the decentralization efforts are focused on bringing services closer to the people.

NAYPYITAW, 29 November 2021, (TON): According to Xinhua “the Myanmar junta says it has plans to resume international tourism early next year.”

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism have announced that in the first phase of reopening tourism, the Ministry expects to welcome visitors from regional countries.

The Ministry’s Public Relations and Information Department said “the ministry needs to make alignment with their reopening plans, travel bubbles or travel corridor schemes.”

An official of the department told the news agency “we are making necessary consultation with government agencies and private associations to systematically receive international visitors when airports and borders reopen.”

The country suspended operations of international commercial passenger flights excluding relief flights, medical evacuation and special flights, and the issuance of all types of visas for foreign nationals from all countries was also suspended.

The Information Ministry says land border crossings with Thailand will reopen next month ahead of a resumption of international air travel by the end of the first quarter of 2022.

KABUL, 28 November 2021, (TON):  The senior delegation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan led by Foreign Minister Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi held a joint meeting with officials and representatives of various Ministries of the State of Qatar in Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound of the host country.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “in the meeting both sides discussed political, humanitarian, economic and education issues.”

Balkhi added “during the meeting, Qatari officials stated they will continued to stand by Afghan and will continue providing aid during the upcoming period.”

RIYADH, 28 November 2021, (TON): The Arab coalition said that 60 Houthis were killed in strikes on Yemen’s Marib province.

The coalition added that seven military vehicles were also destroyed during the strikes over the last 24 hours.

The UN migration agency IOM said “the number of displaced people in camps in the province has risen nearly 10-fold since September, with over 45,000 people fleeing their homes as the militia press an offensive.”

The coalition announced that it had destroyed Houthi sites used to store drones and weapons in Dhahban, Sanaa and urged civilians to stay away from them.

VIENNA, 28 November 2021, (TON): The US has threatened to confront Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency next month if it does not cooperate more with the watchdog, an escalation that could undermine talks on reviving a 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran.

Tehran is locked in several standoffs with the IAEA, whose 35-nation board of governors is holding a quarterly meeting this week.

Former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the JCPOA, otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, that lifted sanctions on Tehran in return for restrictions on its atomic activities.

Trump reimposed debilitating sanctions, after which Tehran expanded its nuclear work and reduced cooperation with the IAEA.

Iran is currently denying the agency access to re-install surveillance cameras at a workshop at the TESA Karaj complex.

The IAEA also wants answers on the origin of uranium particles found at apparently old but undeclared sites, and says Iran continues to subject its inspectors to “excessively invasive physical searches.”

In a statement, it said “if Iran’s non-cooperation is not immediately remedied ... the board will have no choice but to reconvene in extraordinary session before the end of this year in order to address the crisis.”

It added “it was referring especially to re-installing IAEA cameras at the Karaj site, which makes parts for advanced centrifuges for enriching uranium.

That workshop was struck by apparent sabotage in June, which Iran says was an attack by Israel. Israel has not commented on the incident.