This week, Pakistan’s economy suffers from Afghanistan border closure. UN renews South Sudan sanctions for next year. Buddhist monks finish ‘walk for peace’ in Indonesia.
Pakistan’s Economy Suffers from Afghanistan Border Closure
Pakistan’s economy is suffering immensely due to the closure of border crossings with Afghanistan. According to a report by Business Recorder published on June 3, Pakistan lost USD850 million of exports/transit earnings in even months.
The report notes that Pakistani transport companies earn “average USD 200 million from Afghanistan and CARS transit per annum, that has stopped and efforts are under way to start CARS transit thru Iranian corridor, it noted.”
This development comes after on May 26, China and Pakistan released a joint statement stressing the need to prevent militant groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and others from using Afghan territory for terrorist activities.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban in Afghanistan of harboring militants who attack Pakistan. Meanwhile, Afghan officials claim that that Pakistan harbours hostile groups and does not respect its sovereignty, RTL Today reports. The UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan posted on X on April 7 that the conflict had displaced 94,000 people.
UN Renews South Sudan Sanctions for Next Year
On May 29, the UN Security Council extended its sanctions on South Sudan, including asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo, adopting Resolution 2821 (2026).
Countries that voted in favor of the resolution included Bahrain, Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Panama, United Kingdom, and the United States. Countries that abstained from the vote included China, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Somalia.
Progress has stalled on implementing South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalized Agreement. The agreement includes five key points, which are: security-sector reform; the formation of unified forces; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; arms and ammunition management; and efforts to address conflict-related sexual violence.
A global outcry is taking place now that South Sudan’s president unilaterally made changes to the agreementl. On May 19, the embassies of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and the United States released a joint statement urging South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit immediately return to dialogue.
Buddhist Monks Finish ‘Walk for Peace’ in Indonesia
On May 31, a group of around 57 Buddhist monks completed a ‘walk for peace’ in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monks hailed from Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
The Indonesia Walk for Peace (IWFP) takes place during the monks’ ‘thudonga’ pilgrimage. The monks walked 600 kilometers from Bali to Borobudur Temple to celebrate Vesak Day on May 31.
The walk in Indonesia comes after several other walks for peace by Buddhist monks across the globe earlier this year. One walk was completed on April 28 at Independence Square in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Back in February, the same group of monks completed another peace walk across the United States. Mallory McDuff for The Guardian observed that the monks’ journey was “a slow-moving meditation meant to embody peace, rather than argue for it.”
Keywords: Pakistan, South Sudan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, economy, walk, sanctions
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
