Daily News Brief

February 8, 2024

Top of the Agenda

Polls have closed in Pakistan’s general elections, capping a day during which authorities restricted (NYT) mobile internet and phone access due to security concerns. The move caused confusion among some voters who relied on mobile internet to find their polling stations and was condemned (Dawn) by rights groups such as Amnesty International, which called the move a “blunt attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” Today’s vote came after a tense preelection period in which the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the military and sitting civilian officials of obstructing its ability to compete.

As a further security measure, Pakistani authorities closed the country’s borders to Afghanistan and Iran today. It is not clear when results will be announced, but they are expected (BBC) to be released within at least two weeks. 

Analysis

“While the recent uptick in violence is most unfortunate,” the Dawn editorial board writes, “beefing up security and increased patrolling in sensitive areas should take precedence over measures such as internet shutdowns. The very prospect opens a Pandora’s box of issues.”

“The way has been cleared for Nawaz Sharif, the ultimate survivor of Pakistani politics, to become prime minister and for his party to gain control of parliament with the armed forces supporting them,” CFR expert Joshua Kurlantzick writes for the Asia Unbound blog. “Moreover, China is essentially backing the armed forces since Beijing will do anything to preserve stability in Pakistan, one of its most important partners in the world.” 

Pacific Rim

The consumer price index fell (FT) 0.8 percent year-over-year in January, the biggest drop since 2009. It is the latest in a series of negative indicators about China’s economy, analysts say, and underscores the challenges in reviving investor confidence.

North Korea/South Korea: North Korea’s legislature struck down (Bloomberg) laws today that would enable economic cooperation with South Korea. Bilateral cooperation projects have been stalled for years, but the move demonstrates a further cooling of relations after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said peaceful reunification between the two countries would be impossible.

This Expert Brief by CFR expert Scott A. Snyder looks at why North Korea is becoming more hostile.

South and Central Asia

India’s interior minister announced today that a decades-old policy that allows visa-free travel for residents of border areas in the two countries will be suspended (The Hindu) effective immediately over security concerns. Earlier this week, the minister announced that India would construct a fence along its border with Myanmar.

Middle East and North Africa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized (NYT) Palestinian militant group Hamas’s proposed cease-fire and hostage release deal in the Gaza Strip yesterday and said that Israel’s victory over Hamas was “within reach.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later said Hamas’s proposal “creates space for agreement to be reached” and that he would continue working to reach one. Separately, a retaliatory U.S. strike killed (CNN) a leader of Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah in Baghdad yesterday, U.S. Central Command said. 

India/UAE: The largest sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to invest between four and five billion dollars in a financial hub in the Indian state of Gujarat, two unnamed sources told Reuters. The fund first announced their intent to invest in the city last July.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Roughly half of Sudan’s population, or twenty-five million people, needs humanitarian assistance (UN News) amid the current war, the UN emergency relief coordinator said. Doctors Without Borders has described (The Guardian) the situation in Sudan’s North Darfur region as “absolutely catastrophic,” with a child dying of malnutrition every two hours.

This In Brief by CFR’s Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy explains the extent of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. 

DRC: The rebel group known as M23 has launched (Bloomberg) multiple indiscriminate bombings on the eastern city of Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government said. Goma is also a major humanitarian hub. The UN under-secretary-general for peace operations called on M23 to “immediately cease its offensive in eastern DRC” after a trip to the region this week.

Europe

Boris Nadezhdin, who opposes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is barred (FT) from contesting President Vladimir Putin in next month’s election, Russia’s Central Election Commission ruled today. Nadezhdin said he had gathered more than two hundred thousand signatures in support of him appearing on the ballot, and he planned to appeal against today’s decision at Russia’s top court.

In this In Brief, CFR expert Thomas Graham discusses Putin’s grip on power.

Turkey: New central bank governor Fatih Karahan said in his first public comments that he will take further action (FT) to control inflation if needed. His praise of a tight monetary policy continues a position of his predecessor, who resigned last week citing what she called attacks by the Turkish media. 

Americas

Authorities said yesterday they would begin (Reuters) counting votes by hand for both the presidential and congressional races after the country’s electronic vote-counting system delayed the results of Sunday’s elections. It appears clear that President Nayib Bukele won reelection, but the makeup of the sixty-seat legislature is uncertain. 

Nicaragua/Panama: Nicaragua granted political asylum (CNN) to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who is being tried in Panama for money laundering and requested asylum in Nicaragua yesterday. Last week, Panama’s Supreme Court rejected his effort to appeal his prison sentence.

United States

The Pace satellite will record details (AP) of atmospheric and ocean conditions for at least three years from a polar orbit. A NASA official said it would offer “another dimension” to what previous satellites could track. The observations are expected to improve weather forecasting. 

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