ISLAMABAD, 02 November 2021, (TON): Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Khan said that an agreement had been reached with Afghan authorities to reopen the Chaman-Spin Boldak gate from today (Tuesday), nearly a month after the border crossing was closed for pedestrians and trade by the Taliban.

Ambassador Khan told media “as a result of a meeting between border authorities, Afghanistan and Pakistan have decided to open Chaman-Boldak crossing from tomorrow for pedestrians as well as trade. The two sides will now look forward to ensuring smooth operations of the important border crossing.”

The envoy said he had recently called on Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and, among other issues, they had discussed the need for opening the Boldak-Chaman crossing at the earliest, ensuring the facilitation of cross-border movement of people and trade vehicles on both sides, especially because it was the fruit harvest season in Afghanistan.

He said “we also had discussions about following up on the recent visit of the foreign minister of Pakistan to Kabul, which was extremely productive. We remain closely engaged with Afghan authorities for facilitating the movement of people at all border crossings.”

According to a senior member of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Usman Achakzai, the decision to reopen the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing was taken at a meeting held on the Afghan side of the border.

NEW DELHI, 02 November 2021, (TON): The Army and IAF kicked off a major “airborne insertion and combat” exercise along the frontier with China in eastern Ladakh, which will see paratroopers practice capturing territory “behind enemy lines” and then “link up” with their advancing tanks while attack helicopters destroy hostile mechanized forces.

Sources said that the three-day exercise, with hundreds of pre-acclimatized troops and heavy weapon systems at an altitude of over 14,000-feet and minus 20 degree Celsius temperatures, is meant to convey yet another “clear message” to China after the Agni-V missile test last week to “desist from any misadventures along the northern borders.

The combat manoeuvres come amid the continuing deadlock in the 18-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, with China refusing to even complete the stalled troop disengagement at Patrolling Point-15 in the Hot Springs-Gogra-Kongka La area in the 13th round of corps commander-level talks on October 10.

DHAKA, 02 November 2021, (TON): Russian ambassador invites minister for observing the country's rail communication system.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon on Monday sought Russain investment in Bangladesh’s railway sector.

The Minister said “this when Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy called on him at the Railway Bhaban in the city.”

He said “we are seeking foreign investment in the railway sector. Work on different projects is underway and more projects will be taken soon for the improvement of railway services under a master plan.”

The minister said “we are procuring new coaches and engines. New rail tracks are being constructed while bridges are being constructed and renovated. Russian investors could invest in these sectors and establish a training institute jointly with Bangladesh.”

DHAKA, 02 November 2021, (TON): A large team of the United Nations is visiting Bhashan Char ahead of the global body's operational engagement with the project intended to relocate 100,000 Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar.

The team comprises 21 members from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN World Food Program (WFP).

Commander Anwarul Kabir, deputy director of the Bhashan Char project, told media "yes, the UN team has arrived.”

Around 18,000 Rohingyas have already been relocated and the government is planning to complete the relocation by shipping another 82,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals by January.

The UN team was brought to Bhashan Char from Chittagong by a Bangladesh Navy ship. The delegation is scheduled to stay on the island for three days.

About the objective of the visit, the officials concerned said that it was part of the preparations of the UN ahead of their engagement on the island.

NAYPYITAW, 02 November 2021, (TON): Former US ambassador Bill Richardson arrived in Naypyitaw for the start of a four-day mission that will include meetings with Myanmar’s regime leader and other senior junta officials.

The documents show “Richardson will meet military chief Min Aung Hlaing following a meeting with the regime’s minister for foreign affairs. This is expected to be followed by a meeting with the minister of health later the same day.”

On Wednesday morning, he is scheduled to travel to Yangon to consult with the US ambassador to Myanmar before leaving the country.

According to a report by local meida that cited Richardson’s spokesperson, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was aware of the mission. The report said that the trip would focus on public health.

According to the news report, Richardson will be joined by Cameron Hume, who previously served as US ambassador to Indonesia, South Africa, and Algeria, and two officials from the Richardson Center for Global Engagement.

NAYPYITAW, 02 November 2021, (TON): Local resistance fighters said that Junta soldiers abducted 19 people from a village in southern Shan State, blindfolding them before leading them away to be used as human shields.

A  spokesperson for the Pekhon chapter of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) said “the residents were taken from the village of Kathea.”

Many of Kathea’s 450 residents fled the village two days earlier after junta shells exploded at a drug rehabilitation clinic where people were sheltering during a clash between the military and a coalition of fighters from the PDF and the Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF). 

More than 300 Kathea villagers are now taking shelter to the west in Kawnghwet village and the surrounding area and are in need of aid.

The Pekhon PDF spokesperson said “those who were taken included elderly people who had stayed behind to take care of the village. Soldiers took eight villagers at around 3pm and then arrived a few hours later to take the other 11.”

He said “we still do not know where they were taken.” he said.

“The military is also breaking into houses in the village.” His group is trying to find out the identities of all the people who were taken, he added.

ISLAMABAD, 01 November 2021, (TON): Officials said “at least two civilians were killed and three paramilitary troops injured in a remote-controlled blast in the Balochistan province.”

The blast, the latest in a series of terrorist attacks targeting security forces in the mineral-rich province, occurred in Panjgur district, located some 570 kilometres (354 miles) from Quetta.

According to the police “the bomb was planted on a motorbike parked near a security forces vehicle in a crowded area and detonated through remote control.”

Terming the attack a "cowardly act,” the newly-elected Chief Minister of Balochistan Abdul Qudus Bazinjo said the culprits will be brought to justice.

The large Balochistan province, which is also considered to cover parts of neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan, is strategically important due to its rich copper, zinc, and natural gas reserves.

The province is also a key route of the $64 billion mega project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which aims to connect China's strategically important northwestern Xinxiang province to Balochistan’s Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways, and pipelines for cargo, oil, and gas transportation.

KABUL, 01 November 2021, (TON): Mullah Muhammad Yaqub, the acting Taliban defence minister in the interim Afghanistan administration, said on Saturday that he has taken direct charge of security for the multi-billion dollar TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) gas pipeline project.

Yaqub, the son of the Taliban's founding leader, Mullah Omar, made the comment following a meeting with Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, who arrived in Kabul in the morning for talks on the project and bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

Yaqoob tweeted after meeting with Turkmenistan’s top diplomat at the presidential palace in the capital “I am directly responsible for and overseeing the security of the TAPI project. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifices for the implementation of this national project.”

The visiting Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan also met with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, acting prime minister of the Taliban’s interim administration at his office.

Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesperson and deputy minister for information and culture said “during the meeting, both sides discussed bolstering relations, economic, trade, security, and humanitarian assistance.”

In 2018, Afghanistan hosted top officials from Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and India for the groundbreaking ceremony of the TAPI project, which will also connect the four countries with roads, railways, and fiber optics.

KABUL, 01 November 2021, (TON): The Taliban government said that the seat of Afghanistan at the United Nations (UN) is the right of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as per the rules of the global body itself.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen wrote on his Twitter handle who is also the nominee of the new interim setup as UN ambassador for Afghanistan "the permanent representative [at UN] should be a person accredited by government actually in power.”

The United Nations is considering rival claims on who should represent Afghanistan. Ghulam Isaczai, the UN envoy representing the government ousted by the Taliban, is seeking to remain in the country's seat.

A nine-member UN credentials committee, which includes Russia, China and the United States is due to consider the rival Afghan claims next month and decision will likely be made before the end of the year.

Suhail said "IEA has sovereignty, control over all borders and has support of the people. These are key for recognition of a government which the IEA enjoys.”

The statement comes two days after Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that no one is in a hurry to recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan's government, signalling that Moscow is not ready to allow the militants to represent Afghanistan at the UN.

SANAA, 01 November 2021, (TON): A Houthi ballistic missile attack on a mosque and a religious school killed and injured 29 civilians, including women and children, in the Yemeni province of Marib, the country’s information minister said in a statement on Twitter.

Two ballistic missiles were used in the attack late, Marib governor’s office said in a statement. Fighting between government forces and Houthis has escalated in recent months.

The United Nations says some 10,000 people were displaced in September by fighting in Marib, the internationally recognised government’s last northern stronghold. It is calling for a humanitarian corridor for aid.

The war in Yemen and ensuring economic collapse as well as restrictions on imports to Houthi-held areas have caused what the United Nations says is the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, with 16 million people facing starvation.

A coalition of forces led by Riyadh intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed government from the capital Sanaa in late 2014. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.