Asia News Summary: Main Pak-Afghan Border Crossing Reopens, Plus Additional Updates

Here are some key stories from Asia that you may have overlooked this week.

Pakistan and Afghanistan Reopen Main Border Crossing

On Wednesday, Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened their primary border crossing after nearly a month of closure due to clashes between their security forces. Riaz Khan Mehsud, a government official from Pakistan, announced that the Torkham border crossing, which serves as a crucial route for trade and travel, will initially be opened for commerce. Starting Friday, pedestrians will also be permitted to cross. Qureshi Badlon, head of the media department for Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, confirmed that both sides had reached an agreement to resume transit trade. The crossing had been shut since February 21 when conflicts broke out, with both sides using mortars and rocket fire following objections from Afghan forces regarding Pakistan's construction of a border outpost.

Thousands Evacuated After Floods Hit Malaysia

In Malaysia, more than 10,000 individuals have been evacuated from their homes due to severe flooding. The Johor Disaster Management Committee reported that as of 8 a.m. on March 21, approximately 10,763 people had been relocated, a significant increase from the number recorded just 10 hours earlier. "The victims from 3,018 families have been sent to temporary flood relief centers in Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Pontian, and Kulai. A total of 98 temporary flood relief centers have opened in the five affected districts as of 8 a.m.," the committee stated. The flooding occurs just before the Hari Raya celebrations.

China's CERES-1 Rocket Launches Eight Satellites

China successfully launched eight satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit using its CERES-1 commercial rocket on Monday. The rocket, designated CERES-1 Y10, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 4:07 p.m. on March 17, as part of a mission named "Auld Lang Syne." It delivered five satellites, including Yunyao-1 55-60 and AIRSAT-06 and -07. Yunyao-1 is a series of commercial meteorological satellites from Tianjin-based Yunyao Aerospace, aimed at creating a constellation of 90 satellites. Equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System occultation detection payloads, these satellites will gather crucial atmospheric data. The goal is to establish a real-time global atmospheric and ionospheric detection system for improved weather forecasting and support across various sectors. Yunyao Aerospace intends to provide forecast updates every 20 minutes or less to countries involved in the Belt and Road initiative.

Indian Police Impose Curfew Following Violence Over Tomb

An indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Nagpur, India, on Tuesday after clashes that left more than a dozen police officers injured, stemming from a Hindu group's call for the removal of the tomb of a 17th-century Mughal ruler. The violence that erupted Monday resulted in damaged vehicles and injuries to multiple individuals, including at least 15 police personnel. A statement from police indicated that members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad group burned an effigy of Emperor Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting slogans demanding its removal from nearby Aurangabad.

Thailand to Shorten Visa-Free Stays for Tourists

Thailand is set to reduce the number of days foreign tourists can stay without a visa from 60 to 30 days, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong. This decision comes as the Southeast Asian country seeks to address concerns about travelers exploiting the visa waiver for illegal business activities. The reduction has reportedly received preliminary agreement from various ministries, following worries raised by the Association of Thai Travel Agents about the rising instances of foreigners engaging in unauthorized work within the nation.

Rohan Mehta for TROIB News

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