ISLAMABAD, 27 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, emphasised that continued consultations by Afghanistan's neighbours on the situation in the war-torn country were the way forward.

He informed Raisi about Pakistan's perspective on the Afghan situation and stressed the importance of adopting a coordinated approach, saying peace in Afghanistan would bring economic and political benefits for the entire region.

The meeting was part of the foreign minister's two-day visit to four countries, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to promote a coordinated regional approach to the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

According to a statement from the Foreign Office “during today's meeting with the Iranian president, Qureshi was accompanied by Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Ambassador to Tehran Rahim Hayat Qureshi and other senior foreign ministry officials.”

The statement added “he conveyed congratulations from Pakistan's leadership to Raisi for winning Iran's presidential elections and receiving the parliament's endorsement for his cabinet. He also affirmed Pakistan's desire to work with Iran in all areas to further strengthen relations.”

During the meeting, Qureshi also thanked the president for Iran's consistent support on the Kashmir issue, especially by its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

COLOMBO, 27 August 2021, (TON):  The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka Tanja Gonggrijp and High Commissioner of Australia David Holly called on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

During discussions with Ambassador Gonggrijp, Foreign Minister Peiris highlighted the long and fruitful relationship between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands which has influenced the legal system, architecture, cuisine, culture and lifestyle, as well as various facets of the socio-political system in Sri Lanka.

The Minister Peiris in this regard made specific reference to the legacy of Roman Dutch law which has contributed to the evolution of the Sri Lankan legal system.

With regard to contemporary relations, the Foreign Minister Peiris reiterated the strong resolve of the Government of Sri Lanka to reinforce areas of cooperation with the Netherlands in the political, economic and cultural spheres, enhance connectivity and people-to-people interactions, as well as to further strengthen collaboration in multilateral fora.

Ambassador Gonggrijp spoke on the many areas of synergy and cooperation existing between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands which are harnessed for mutual benefit.

In this regard, the Ambassador Gonggrijp referred to Dutch technical expertise in the fields of agriculture, dairy industry, culture, heritage management and restoration, which are being utilised in programmes of ongoing collaboration with Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador Gonggrijp also referred to value-added production and exports in the agriculture sector, capacity building in the dairy sector, and use of organic fertiliser and sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka, as areas where there can be further collaboration with the Netherlands. There was agreement to further explore areas of synergy for mutual benefit.

DUBAI, 27 August 2021, (TON): Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has received a delegation headed by UAE’s National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Both sides exchanged views on multiple issues of common interest. They have further discussed enhancing cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic and trade fields, and investment projects.

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan conveyed to Qatar’s Emir the greetings of UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

From his side, Qatar’s Emir conveyed his greetings to the UAE’s leadership and said he wishes further developments and prosperity for the country and its people.

BERLIN, 27 August 2021, (TON): The German government said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel called off a planned weekend visit to Israel because of the situation in Afghanistan.

Merkel was due to travel to Israel for her first trip to the country since Naftali Bennett succeeded Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. Her visit had been due to last until Monday.

It was called off in consultation with Bennett “because of current developments in Afghanistan,” Merkel’s office said in a statement. Germany is among the countries scrambling to evacuate from Kabul their own nationals and Afghans who helped their forces during a nearly-two-decade deployment in the country.

according to his office Bennett spoke with Merkel from his hotel in Washington during his ongoing visit to the United States.

The prime minister said “he understands the situation and expressed the hope that the Afghanistan withdrawal will be successful and carried out without casualties.”

He added that he hoped to host Merkel in the future, the statement said.

COLOMBO, 27 August 2021, (TON): Having succeeded Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena recently, Prof. G.L. Peiris has met top envoys of several major countries over the past few days.

Prof. Peiris met South Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong and Kuwaiti Ambassador Khalaf Bu Dhhair to discuss a range of bilateral matters. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and senior officials of the Ministry participated in the meetings.

The Foreign Ministry said that the discussions with Ambassador Jeong centered on a wide range of areas of existing and potential cooperation including education, science, information technology, digitalisation, pharmaceutical production, labor migration, people-to-people exchanges and partnership in multilateral engagements.

A particular emphasis was placed on the importance of development of Korean language education in Sri Lanka, enabling direct and effective exchanges between citizens, businesses and institutions between the two countries.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris reiterated the significance of Sri Lanka-Korea bilateral relations which continue to be mutually beneficial with potential for further expansion and expressed appreciation for Ambassador Woonjin’s sentiments towards Sri Lanka and its people.

They agreed to explore further avenues for expanding trade and economic relations between the two countries which can be diversified into new development projects and investments.

NAYPYITAW, 27 August 2021, (TON): Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has enacted a law against genocide, which opponents of the coup regime say may be used to against resistance fighters launching guerilla attacks against the Myanmar military and its supporters.

The military-run Global New Light of Myanmar said the new law had been added as sections 311A and 311B to a section of the Penal Code that criminalises the offences of murder, robbery and kidnapping children.

The law, enacted on Tuesday, punishes killings and other offences committed “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part” a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, wording which follows that used in laws against genocide around the world.

It added that genocide offences involving killings are punishable by death while other genocide offences, such as forcibly tranfering the children of one group to another group, are punishable with life in prison, the announcement said. Perpetrators can be arrested without warrants, and the offences are non-bailable.

Min Aung Hlaing is accused of being a chief architect and perpetrator of a genocidal campaign of mass murder, rape, arson and forced displacement against the Rohingya in Rakhine State in 2017, which led to a case being opened against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.

Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer representing ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, said there was no chance that the new law would be used to prosecute members of the military for their crimes.

“Those in power use laws as weapons to protect their own interests,” he said. “If the laws conform to their interest, they will enforce them. If not, they won’t.”

Kyi Myint, another veteran lawyer, said the regime’s move may be intended to “trick” the international community. “I think they are going to say they want to prevent those crimes from happening in future and have enacted those laws by following the ICJ’s orders.”

NEW DELHI, 27 August 2021, (TON): India and the Maldives signed a contract for the implementation of an Indian-funded connectivity project, described by Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation.

Under the Greater male connectivity project (GMCP), a 6.74 km long bridge and carriageway link will be built to connect the capital city of Malé with the contiguous islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

Authorities said “funded with a $ 100 million grant and a $ 400 million credit line from India, this will be the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives.

The contract for the implementation of the project was signed between the Maldives Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Planning and National Infrastructure, Mohamed Aslam, the Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail, the Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Ameer, the Minister of Transport, Aishath Nahula, and the High Commissioner of India, Sunjay Sudhir.

DHAKA, 27 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Abdul Momen has urged South Africa to consider opening its resident mission in Dhaka.

Momen, who is in South Africa on an official visit, said “this at a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Naledi M Pandor in Pretoria” said a press release.

Pandor assured that they may initially establish a diplomatic representation of their country in Bangladesh.

MOSCOW, 27 August 2021, (TON): President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson said “Russia has yet to determine its position towards the Taliban, and will see how they act toward the Afghan population and Russian diplomats.”

Dmitry Peskov told a briefing "we think that the Taliban's dominance, the de facto rise to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan and them taking most over the country under their control is de facto an accomplished process."

He said that Moscow now wanted to see how this would translate into the security situation for the Afghan people and Russian diplomats in the country.

He added “Moscow is interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan and will likely continue contacts with Washington on issues arising there.”

Peskov said "the situation certainly requires exchange of opinions, exchange of information, so, of course, it is highly likely that such contacts will continue."

Four Russian military planes evacuated Russian and other nationals from Kabul on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, as Moscow held military exercises involving its tank forces in neighbouring Tajikistan.

NAYPYITAW, 27 August 2021, (TON): An anti-junta police force was formed by hundreds of striking police officers based in Kayah (Karenni) State under the leadership of a regional consultative council.

The Karenni State Police (KSP) consists of 320 police who defected from the military’s home affairs ministry after the February 1 coup, the Karenni State Consultative Council announced in a statement.

Formed in April following deadly crackdowns on protesters by the coup regime’s armed forces, the council is comprised of elected lawmakers and representatives of political parties, ethnic armed organisations and civil society groups.

Overseen by state-based anti-dictatorship groups, the police force is the first of its kind to form since military chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power from the elected civilian government on February 1.

A KSP spokesperson told media on the condition of anonymity “we will be responsible for law enforcement. But for the time being, we will mainly focus on the security of the people.”

He added “our short term responsibility will be to help displaced locals and to provide security for those within our territory.”

Some members of the KSP will join the armed struggle against the military dictatorship, but representatives say that the institutional goal is to create a different type of police force than the one that has long served military interests in Myanmar.

He said “as a long term vision, we aim to make it a model police force for others in the country.”

The KSP will operate at the township, district and state levels, with the highest attainable ranks for officers being police colonel and lieutenant colonel.