Venkatesh Iyer
Nepal
Along the Indo-Nepal border in West Champaran district of Bihar, Nepal is getting to construct a helipad. According to a report within theHindustan Times, the proposed helipad for which tenders were already floated is being planned at Narsahi village, near the Thari border outpost (BOP) of Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) near Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district, 80 km from the district headquarters Bettiah.
The Gandak River referred to as Sapt Gandaki and Narayani in Nepal; it originates within theNhubine Himal glacier in Nepal and flows across the Himalayan country before entering India near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar. The Gandak River flows another 300 km and merge with the Ganga near Patna.
It’s also learnt Nepal, will send its new political map that shows three disputed areas Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as a part ofits territory, to both the United Nations and Google to secure the international community’s recognition. The three areas are being disputed by Nepal from May as the parliament then, had approved a replacement political map claiming territorial command. The drastic step was taken immediately during the first week of May when India opened a road to Kailash-Mansarovar in China that runs through the Lipulekh Pass.
The Indo-Nepal border stretches for over 800-km alongside Bihar. Last month Nepal stopped reinforcement of a 400-meter embankment on Lal Bakey River in Baluwa- Guabari panchayat in Dhaka block of East Champaran district in Bihar, claiming that some part of the development fell under its territorial jurisdiction. Over the past two months, there has been friction between these two countries along the border in Bihar.
Pakistan
After the intervention of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) mentioning India has the right to seek further remedies in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the Islamabad High Court has deferred the hearing the ongoing case till September 3. It stated India should be allowed to appoint a lawyer, though the lawyer defending the case, necessarily has to be a Pakistani national and should be practising in Pakistan.
Earlier, last month the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) presented an ordinance to pave the path of reviewing the military court orders in civil courts. This move, according to the opposition parties, is PM Imran Khan softening his stand and facilitating the relief for Jadhav.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will be the first South Asian nation to hold a parliamentary election on 5th August in the middle of the pandemic. The elections are being held for 196 legislative seats. The elections were originally scheduled to take place on 25 April but, later postponed to 20 June and finally will be held tomorrow. The Election Commission in order to safeguard the health of its citizen had held several rounds of mock elections.
The results are being keenly followed in India primarily for two reasons. One is the improved relationship between the Rajapaksa’s with China because of which they are rethinking the East Container Terminal project since India has kept Sri Lanka’s request on debt freeze in abeyance. Second, this election will also be new learning for India on how to go about conducting elections during the ongoing pandemic as assembly polls in Bihar will be conducted shortly.