Blending Borders #11
Blending Borders #11
Blending Borders
A Fortnightly Newsletter
November 2nd, 2021
Issue #11
This Newsletter explores ongoing issues and perspectives from India’s neighbouring countries, including - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan.
In Brief, I discuss:- Vaccine updates, CAG India and AG Maldives sign MoU, Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group, The South Asia power pool, Bangladesh-EU political dialogue, China’s policy towards Afghanistan
The Raging Pandemic
In a friendly exchange, the island of Maldives gifted supplied Nepal with 201,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on October 31st, said The Kathmandu Post. The post also reported that 1.02 million doses of the Vero Cell vaccine were delivered to Nepal on October 27th, which the country purchased using a loan from the Asian Development Bank. The vaccine doses were purchased through COVAX’s cost-sharing mechanism. Nepal is said to receive vaccines from Canada and Switzerland as well. According to officials at the Health Ministry, Switzerland has offered around 100,000 doses, said the Post.
Chinese state media reported that 4 million additional doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine reached Myanmar on October 23rd. The total number of vaccines purchased by Myanmar from China is now 24 million, including its latest shipment.
Meanwhile, Russian news agency TASS reported that the Taliban government is interested in the supply of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine. According to the report, the Taliban appointed Health Minister Qalandar Ibad said that the U.S did not provide Afghanistan with the vaccines they promised to in the negotiations between Taliban and American diplomats on October 9 in the capital of Qatar, Doha. So as a result, the interim government expressed its interest in purchasing vaccines from other countries. "We’re interested in receiving vaccines from Russia as well as from any other country, which wishes to render assistance to us in this field", he was quoted saying.
CAG of India and AG of Maldives Sign MoU
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Auditor General’s Office of the Maldives signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 24 October 2021 to strengthen existing relations and bilateral cooperation between both parties, during CAG’s official visit to the Maldives. Two of the key takeaways from the official release include:
"Both parties underscored the importance of collaborating with each other in the areas of mutual interest to enhance the professional capacity of both the institutions and improve their methodologies in the field of public audit"
"Both parties agreed to conduct training programmes in their respective countries for their staff on a need basis and explore other means of capacity development support, and cooperate on areas that are mutually beneficial"
The AG of Maldives appreciated India’s continued support in helping his institution build and develop the necessary capacities of its staff. Likewise, the CAG of India reiterated that collaborative efforts between both institutions could strengthen professional capacity and improve methodologies in the field of audit of public finance.
Meanwhile, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih delivered a keynote speech at the Maldives Investment Forum on October 26th, according to local media. In his speech, he talked about the immense potential of the island nation and the vast number of investment opportunities the Maldives can offer. He was quoted saying, “The islands that we have just opened for tourist resort development today, are excellent opportunities for investors to be part of the Maldives’ tourism success”. He added that the government’s topmost priorities lie in fostering economic growth through sectoral diversification, environmental sustainability and the prosperity of societies.
He highlighted that Maldives’ immediate and “medium-term” strategy to develop a consolidated response is to foster innovation, enable digital disruptions and accelerate public services that are people-centred, effective and resilient. Finally, he emphasised that the Maldives requires support and assistance from international countries to help attain its goals.
14th Meeting of the Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group
The 14th meeting of the Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group on security issues commenced on October 28th, in Bangalore. Key matters like training and capacity-building efforts between the two countries were discussed. The two sides further agreed to conduct regular discussions on security issues, said The Economic Times. The Nepal-India bilateral consultative group was set up in 2003 for holding regular discussions on issues relating to bilateral security.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his Nepali counterpart Narayan Khadka over the phone on October 19th. According to the official press release some of the key points said by both Ministers include:
"The Chinese side is willing to share China's development opportunities with Nepal and jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, help boost Nepal's economic and social development, and build a closer China-Nepal community with a shared future" - FM Yi
"The new government of Nepal attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, launch high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push for new progress in Nepal-China relations" - FM Khadka
"Nepal will firmly adhere to the one-China policy and will never allow any force to use its territory to conduct anti-China activities" - FM Khadka
*this was an interesting point in my opinion as it could indicate Nepal’s dependence on China and its commitment to maintaining friendly relations with China at the cost of its ties with India*
Finally, do read this detailed report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank on its Monetary Policy for 2021-2022.
The importance of South Asia Power Pool
According to an article in Mint, the proposed South Asia power pool comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) will be the primary component of the South Asia-South-East Asia interconnection corridor that has been shortlisted for an ambitious global grid plan. According to the article, the South Asian corridor is crucial as the BBIN countries have already begun a system of trading electricity bilaterally or trilaterally with India as a connector. World Bank country director in India Junaid Ahmad was quoted saying, “The platform can be converted into a well-functioning power pool and a connected market where countries can buy and sell electricity. By tapping into the hydropower of Bhutan and Nepal and the growing hydro and solar power of India and Bangladesh. A green power pool”.
Bangladesh-EU Political Dialogue
Local news publication The Daily Star reported that the European Union and Bangladesh have agreed to hold their first political dialogue next year. The purpose of the dialogue will be to provide strategic guidance and strengthen foreign and security relations. The two sides had earlier taken a decision to take relations beyond the traditional development and trade cooperation and address new issues of climate change, connectivity and security. The decision comes after Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen met the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora on October 26 in Brussels.
The prospects for Bangladesh’s blue economy lies in its practice of seaweed farming according to a report. As marine plants and Algae have multiple uses in industries like food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and fertilizers in local and global markets, plans to promote seaweed farming commercially can prove to be beneficial to the blue economy. But in order to go commercial, the country is yet to develop its market value chain which is currently missing. Dr Md Kawser Ahmed, Professor of Oceanography Department at Dhaka University, was quoted in the report saying that the contribution of seaweed is enormous not only to the economy but also to the environment and ecology. He added that if Bangladesh can develop the sector, it would be able to earn a huge level of foreign currency.
Moving on, The Daily Star reported that Bangladesh is eyeing Russian investment in its railway sector, according to Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sajan. He was quoted saying, “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”. Further, Minister Sajan is expected to make a visit to Russia next month upon the invitation of the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy to take a look at their rail communication system, technology, and coach and engine making factories.
China’s Policy Towards Afghanistan
On October 26, 2021, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered questions from the media about his engagements with the delegation of the Afghan Taliban's interim government before leaving Doha. Some important remarks he made as highlighted in the official press release include:
"We communicated on bilateral exchanges and decided to establish a working-level mechanism. It should be said that these engagements are beneficial and have enhanced mutual understanding"
"China's policy toward Afghanistan is clear and consistent. We respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, respect the Afghan people's active exploration of a development path that suits its own national conditions, and respect the objective reality of the Afghan interim government's efforts on governance throughout the country" - No more details were mentioned here on what exactly China’s policy in Afghanistan entails so it was stated very ambiguously
"Regarding the temporary difficulties facing Afghanistan, we need to point out clearly that the United States and some Western countries bear the unshirkable responsibility" - Here Yi also urged that these countries must assume responsibility and take practical actions to avoid a humanitarian crisis
Yi also talked about the threat of terrorism and the need to combat terrorist forces "including the Islamic State and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement"
Meanwhile, the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan remain bleak as highlighted by Australian BBC journalist Yalda Hakim below:
Suggested Reads
1. How the Taliban is affecting India’s trade with Afghanistan - Rahul Nath Choudhury - Asia & The Pacific Policy Society
2. Nepal’s climate action plan: progressive on paper only - Ramesh Bhushal - The Third Pole
3. Leaving Burma Behind - Ben Morris - History Today
4. Competing over climate: Myanmar’s valuable and climate-vulnerable geography - Bruce Jones - Brookings Institution
5. The “stateless” Rohingya in Bangladesh: Crisis management and policy responses - Md Reza Habib - Asian Politics & Policy
6. Major Power Rivalry in South Asia - Tanvi Madan - Council on Foreign Relations
7. Introducing Kashmir to the New Geopolitical and Regional Realities - Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy - ORF
That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this issue.
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. If you found it interesting, please share it with friends, colleagues and family.
This Newsletter is written by Ameera Rao, a Research Assistant at the Takshashila Institution. She has previously completed a BA (Hons) in International Relations from King’s College London.