West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | October 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments The flux and fog about the United States (US) mediated rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia persisted during the month with the stakeholders making periodic remarks swinging between the difficulties and early conclusion of the process. Thus, Reuters reported in an exclusive on Sept […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | September 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg decided to invite 6 countries to join the organisation from 1.1.2024. These included four from the WANA region, viz. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and the UAE. Of these, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | August 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments Repeated incidents of public burning of the Quran in Nordic countries (Sweden on 20/7, Denmark on 24/7 and 25/7) ignited – as intended – a strong reaction in many countries of the West Asia North Africa (WANA) […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | July 2023
H I G H L I G H T S Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments ∙ The visit by the US secretary of state Antony Blinken to Saudi Arabia on June 8-9 included a call on Saudi PM and Crown Prince Mohammed bin […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | June 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments The Arab League held its 32nd ordinary Summit on May 19 in Jeddah. It was conspicuous for two developments: firstly, it readmitted Syria to the Arab fold after over 11 years and President Bashar Al-Assad attended the […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | May 2023
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments As a follow-up to March 10 ground-breaking meeting between their respective national security advisors hosted by China, the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing on April 6. The following joint statement was issued […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | March 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Pandemics and Natural Disasters: Two severe earthquakes struck south-central Turkey and north-western Syria on Feb 6 causing colossal death and destruction. The first, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, happened before sunrise and was centred 26 km east of the Turkish city of Nurdagi; the second, 7.5 strong, […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest By Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | November 2022
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues WANA and Ukraine Conflict: On Oct 5, Ukraine alleged that the Russian forces had used Shahed-136 Kamikaze drones built by Iran. A swarm attack on Oct 17 at Kyiv by these drones killed 8 people. On the same day, the United […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | September 2022
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Pakistan and WANA Region: Islamabad continues to press Gulf monarchies to bail her out of the acute balance of payment crisis that has left the country with forex reserves barely enough for a month’s imports. It had partial success. During an official visit […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | August 2022
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues General: Islamic New Year 1444 AH commenced on July 30. After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Haj pilgrimage returned to a semblance of normalcy in 2022. It concluded with Eid al-Adha on July 9. Nearly one mn foreign Hajis […]