DHAKA, 27 October 2021, (TON): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Bangladesh Army to remain always prepared to make the supreme sacrifice in any need of the nation alongside protecting the country’s sovereignty.

She said “I believe, Bangladesh army will always remain prepared to make the highest sacrifice in any need of the nation alongside protecting the sovereignty of Bangladesh.”

The prime minister was addressing as the chief guest a ceremony of handing over new flags to ‘Mujib Artillery Regiment’ and ‘Rowshan Ara Artillery Regiment’ and national flag to 10 units of  Bangladesh Army, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here.

The function was arranged at the Artillery Centre and School at Halishahar Cantonment in Chattogram.

She said “Bangladesh army had been playing a pivotal role in facing the natural and man-made disasters and the country’s socio-economic, infrastructural and communicational development alongside guarding the country’s sovereignty.”

The prime minister appreciated Bangladesh military personnel for earning global honour and dignity for the country by performing their duties with utmost professionalism.

DHAKA, 27 October 2021, (TON): The two sides agreed to take the relations beyond the traditional development and trade cooperation.

The EU and Bangladesh agreed to launch the first Political Dialogue in 2022 for providing strategic guidance and intensifying foreign and security policy cooperation.

According to a press release received on Wednesday “the decision was made during a meeting between Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora in Brussels.”

Acknowledging Bangladesh's growth momentum and new confidence as a nation, Mora said that the EU looked forward to engaging further with Bangladesh on issues of shared interest, including through a focus on the Indo-Pacific.

Earlier, the foreign secretary discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations at the 4th Bangladesh-EU diplomatic consultations with Gunner Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, EEAS while Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Mahbub Hassan Saleh and other officials from different ministries were present at the discussion.

NAYPYITAW, 27 October 2021, (TON): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been urged to “take a decisive step” to resolve the ongoing crisis in Myanmar by recognising the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and demanding the generals who seized power in February immediately halt armed violence before agreeing to any talks.

In a news conference, Southeast Asian parliamentarians and Myanmar opposition representatives said “the 10-member group should stop siding with the coup leaders, and instead engage with the NUG, which they said was the legitimate representative of the majority of the electorate.”

The NUG is Myanmar’s shadow government and includes members of the parliament returned in the November 2020 election, as well representatives from the country’s different ethnic groups, including those fighting the military. It was formed after the February 1 coup.

Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian parliament and chairman of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), said that while his group welcomes the ASEAN’s “unprecedented and significant” decision to exclude military leader Min Aung Hlaing from the annual regional summit, “much more needs to be done” to resolve the political impasse.

NAYPYITAW, 27 October 2021, (TON): More than 40 junta-appointed local administrators have resigned in Yedashe Township following a warning issued by the local People’s Defence Force (PDF) earlier this month calling on them to step down from their posts by the end of October.

A photo of the warning was posted by the local PDF on Facebook along with three bullets on October 15.

The administrators who resigned cited health reasons for their departure.

Among those who left were two township-level administrators, a 100-household leader from an urban ward, and several administrators from rural areas.

A member of the Yedashe PDF told media that the group was closely monitoring the administrators who had not resigned.

He further told media “we will be engaging in urban guerrilla warfare as soon as possible. We wanted to warn them that we can no longer guarantee the safety of their family members.”

The group will also be further watching the activities of those who did resign, he added, to ensure that they do not continue to covertly maintain ties to the coup regime.

He added “I appreciate that they took the people’s side, but if they are found to be operating secretly after their resignation, examples will be made out of them.”

ISLAMABAD, 27 October 2021m (TON): Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad issued a press release today seeking explanation on the reported killing of a Pakistani prisoner in an incident in IIOJK under Indian custody.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires to the Foreign Office, Islamabad today and a strong protest was lodged on the reported killing of a Pakistani civilian prisoner Mr. Zia Mustafa, in an incident involving Indian occupation forces in Poonch sector of Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Indian Cd’A was told that the reported killing of the Pakistani prisoner, who was in Indian custody since 2003, under mysterious circumstances at a location away from the prison where he was interned, was not only intriguing but also raised serious questions about the well-being, safety and security of Pakistani prisoners in India.
Regrettably, this is not the first such incident. In the past as well, Pakistani civilian prisoners in India have been found dead under inexplicable circumstances. Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of the dastardly Indian practice of extra-judicial killing of Pakistani and Kashmiri prisoners in fake encounters.
The Government of India was urged to urgently authenticate this particular incident, undertake a credible and transparent investigation into it, ensure justice, and hold the perpetrators to account.
The Indian Government was further reminded to fulfill its obligations to ensure safety, security and humane treatment of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails/detention centres pending their release or repatriation.

SRINAGAR, 27 October 2021, (TON): Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have filed criminal cases under a stringent anti-terror law against the students of two medical colleges in the region for celebrating Pakistan’s victory against India in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan thrashed archrival India with a 10-wicket victory in the cricket match held in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday night.

India’s loss triggered attacks against Kashmiri students in western Punjab state and a Muslim member of the Indian team was abused online.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan who rule over parts of it.

A popular rebellion against the Indian rule erupted in Indian-administered Kashmir the 1990s, with the rebels demanding either a merger with Muslim-majority Pakistan or an independent state.

In such a scenario, an India-Pakistan cricket match evokes strong reactions mainly in the valley, with residents publicly declaring their support for Pakistan to make a political statement.

ISLAMABAD, 27 October 2021, (TON): Pakistan will mark October 27 as the 'Black Day' to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and highlight their decades-long miseries at the hands of the Indian security forces.

A number of activities including rallies and different events have been planned for the day to shake the conscience of the international community, especially the United Nations urging it to play its due role in providing Kashmiris their legitimate right to self-determination.

Banners, inscribed with the Black Day messages and pictures of prominent Kashmiri leaders, have been placed on key junctions and roads of the federal capital to exhibit unity with the people of Kashmir.

Pakistanis and Kashmiris, living in any part of the world, would observe the day in a befitting manner, reminding the UN resolutions passed by its Security Council in favour of the right to self-determination of the people of IIOJK.

The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan has chalked out a comprehensive programme for observing the day with a renewed spirit, while the provincial governments have also planned various activities to mark the day.

ISLAMABAD, 27 October 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasised the need for effective steps by the international community for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the region.

The resolve came during the foreign minister's meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud in Riyadh.

Both leaders discussed regional and international issues as well as matters of mutual interest and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The foreign minister stated "the Middle East Green Initiative Summit will help build a regional narrative to tackle the implications of climate change.”

Earlier it was reported that FM Qureshi reached Tehran to attend a ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries scheduled on Wednesday (October 27).

FM Qureshi is accompanied by a delegation during the two-day official visit to Iran. At his arrival in Tehran, he was received by Pakistan's envoy in Iran, Rahim Hayat Qureshi, and senior officials of the foreign ministry at Imam Khomeini International Airport.

During the visit, Qureshi will also call on his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir Abdollahian to discuss in detail matters of mutual interests, including regional security. He will also interact with media representatives and present Pakistan's views on important regional and global issues.

KABUL, 27 October 2021, (TON): Official statements confirmed “Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Taliban’s deputy head, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and other key officials for talks over the recent situation in Afghanistan in Qatar’s capital Doha.”

According to a statement by the Taliban-run Foreign Ministry in Kabul, the Afghan side said Afghanistan’s soil would not be used against China and expressing gratitude for its humanitarian assistance.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qahar Balkhi said “H.E. Muttaqi called on the Chinese side to address issues pertaining to Afghan traders and to facilitate the export of onyx marble, precious plants, dried apricots, almonds, dried figs, pistachios & particularly pine nuts.”

He added “the Afghan side led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also called on China to provide educational opportunities for the Afghan students in China.”

Balkhi said “Minister Wang Yi welcomed recent positive changes in Afghanistan & highlighted historic Afghan-Sino ties, adding that China would work on the basis of mutual interests of both countries & never interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.”

Separately, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also confirmed the Wang-Baradar meeting in Doha.

A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand noted that Wang said Afghanistan is facing quadruple challenges, namely the humanitarian crisis, economic chaos, terrorist threats, and governance difficulties.

KABUL, 27 October 2021, (TON): The Kazakh foreign minister says “helping the Afghani people and restoring trade and economic ties with the war-torn country is of immense importance.”

Mukhtar Tileuberdi made the remarks while commenting on his recent visit to Afghanistan at the head of a high-level Kazakh delegation.

Kazinform quoted him as saying the working visit was aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and building new economic ties with it.

Preventing economic collapse and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was important, he said, arguing it might eventually lead to increased drug trafficking, extremism and an influx of refugees.