News Report: India Cannot Be Faulted for Taking Pragmatic Stance on Rohingyas - Expert

As the Rohingya crisis widens with potential ramifications for the whole of South Asia and Southeast Asia, a top United Nations official has criticized India's decision to deport Rohingya immigrants. However, some experts feel that India’s posture is pragmatic in its own right.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, on Monday accused Myanmar of carrying out "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims. Not only that, Hussein slammed India for taking measures to "deport Rohingyas at a time of such violence against them in their country".

India has not only decided to deport some 40,000 Rohingya Muslims illegally residing in the country, but also dissociated itself on Thursday from a declaration adopted at the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development in Bali, Indonesia, referring to violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

"This was in view of the fact that the declaration, which was to be adopted at the conclusion of the Forum, was not in line with the agreed global principles of sustainable development," said a press release issued by Lok Sabha- India's lower house of Parliament.

News Story: Aung San Suu Kyi pledges Myanmar's active participation in BIMSTEC integration process

Aung San Suu Kyi

YANGON, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has pledged the country's continued active participation in the BIMSTEC region's integration process to fulfill the objectives of the organization and to meet the aspiration of the people of the region.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) groups Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

Suu Kyi made the remarks in her message on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of BIMSTEC, which was published Thursday.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: SAARC Bears the Weight of India-Pakistan Rivalry

It is not a good idea for India to promote BIMSTEC at the cost of SAARC even though hurdles by Islamabad to enhance regional cooperation has frustrated India as well as other South Asian countries

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Over 30 years after South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was formed, a regional integration framework has become a victim to the rivalry between its two biggest members.

This may be forcing member states to search for alternatives. Many SAARC member countries, including India, are particularly exasperated with Islamabad playing spoilsport within the regional grouping. 

India’s top foreign ministry official echoed that sentiment on Monday. Making an indirect reference to Pakistan, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that “blocking every possible initiative” under SAARC is a hugely damaging approach and will force countries of the region to look for other options like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to boost regional cooperation. 

News Report: Did China Derail India’s Regional Connectivity Plan?

Bhutan has put a hurdle in India’s ambitious road connectivity plan involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal after its Parliament failed to ratify the necessary legislation. Analysts detect Chinese hand in persuading the legislators to withhold approval.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Bhutan, the most acquiescing of India’s neighbors, has derailed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans for seamless connectivity among its neighbors except Pakistan.

Bhutan had gone by India’s wishes by boycotting the SAARC summit in Islamabad and turning up for the BIMSTEC meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa. 

But it seems to have developed second thoughts on an Modi’s pet sub-regional connectivity project. The upper house of Bhutan Parliament did not pass the motor vehicle pact which is essential for the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Agreement. 

There have been unverified charges of a Chinese hand. Beijing has repeatedly tried to engage Bhutan and both sides recently held talks to resolve their border dispute. 

News Story: China, Sri Lanka vow to deepen cooperation within Belt and Road framework

GOA, India, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday, vowing to deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation within the Belt and Road framework.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the eighth BRICS summit in the western Indian state of Goa.

China-Sri Lanka relations have seen positive and healthy development momentum, said Xi, noting that China will work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the traditional friendship cultivated by generations.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as well as the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on Rice for Rubber, he said, calling on the two sides to take the opportunity to cement traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to lift bilateral ties to a new high.

In 1952, Sri Lanka withstood the pressure from the United States and other Western countries and signed the famous rice and rubber agreement with new China, and in doing so, opening a chapter in the history of friendly exchanges between the two countries.

To further their relations, Xi suggested the two sides maintain high-level contacts and political communication, and continue to show mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests.

China appreciates Sri Lanka's support for and active participation in the Belt and Road construction, said Xi.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Editorial: Diplomatic Access - Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin on regional connectivity, maritime disputes, and regional security threats.

For 2015, The Diplomat presents “Diplomatic Access,” a series of exclusive interviews with ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region. By talking to these diplomats, we’ll give readers a sense of each country’s perspective on various regional economic and security trends — from TPP to the Silk Road Economic Belt; from the South China Sea disputes to the Islamic State. Check out the whole series to date here.

In this interview, His Excellency Mohammad Ziauddin, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States, discusses regional connectivity, maritime disputes, and regional security threats.

The Diplomat: From Bangladesh’s perspective, what are the greatest threats facing the South Asian Region? What can we do to address these issues?

Amb. Ziauddin: The South Asian region, with a combined population of over one and a half billion people, is faced with a number of threats. Of these, poverty, climate change, and terrorism are the prominent ones. These threats cannot be overcome alone but with the combined effort of the countries in the region and with the support of the development partners. All would need to work together for common prosperity with a thrust on education and economic cooperation. Efforts in these two areas would ensure both domestic and regional economic development.

A factor for quickening development is good connectivity of roads, rail, water, and air in the region. Good connectivity could bolster vibrant trade and commerce among the countries. These in turn could help in creating an enlightened and prosperous populace thus ridding the region of extremism and terrorism, tackling climate change, and facing all other challenges threatening the region.

Read the full story at The Diplomat