COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Afghan Foreign Minister: Afghanistan will work “vigorously” to seek peace with Taliban insurgents; Suicide attack kills 20 including NATO troops in eastern city of Khost

Pakistan

• Newly appointed US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson: The “primary focus” of US engagement with Pakistan will now be to convince its government to act against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan Agency; Pakistan Foreign Office: Stability in Afghanistan in interest of Pakistan and Russia

Bangladesh

• Indian Army Chief visits Bangladesh; Bangladesh and India express their concerns over the increasing trend of smuggling of synthetic and “party” drugs -- largely used by youngsters -- across the open border; Dipu Moni elected as chairperson to the CMAG; Bangladesh ranks 11th in the Happy Planet Index 2012

Sri Lanka

• US government likely to allow Sri Lanka to import crude oil from Iran

Maldives

• Maldives and Somalia discuss the issue of repatriation of Somalis drifted to Maldives

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Philippine government, Moro rebels agree on peace agreement; Myanmar President to visit South Korea; Thai delegation visits India; Philippines to host ASEAN Maritime Forum; Malaysian leader calls for more understanding between Indonesia and Malaysia

China

• Kathmandu-Beijing conclude five-point agreement; China establishes mission to ASEAN in Jakarta; China-France agree to improve cooperation; Bo Xilai expelled from Chongqing top legislature; Hillary Clinton calls for better China-US relations; Chinese aircraft carrier enters service on September 25; China opposes sanctions against Iran; Pakistan and China agree to promote ties; Beijing issues White Paper on Diaoyu Dao islands

Japan
September 24-30, 2012

• Japanese Prime Minister vows not to compromise on the Senkaku territorial dispute with China; Japan and Australia to strengthen their defense ties

October 1-7, 2012

• Deployment of the first squadron of 12 MV-22 Ospreys aircraft at the Futenma base completed amid strong protest among the Okinawa residents

South Korea
September 24-30, 2012

• US urges both South Korea and Japan to resolve the territorial dispute over Dokdo/Takeshima through dialogue

October 1-7, 2012

• South Korea criticizes Japan’s preparation to unilaterally take the Dokdo/Takeshima dispute to ICJ

North Korea
October 1-7, 2012

• North Korea test-fired one short-range missile on September 27; North Korean diplomat warns of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula; North Korean leader Kim Jong-un urges the security agencies to display their loyalties

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Kazakhstan to help India meet its energy requirements; The Asian Development Bank raises previously estimated Tajikistan’s GDP growth to 6.5 per cent; Kazakhstan initiates import restrictions on Kyrgyz dairy products; Presidents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan criticises Tajikistan’s Rogun dam construction; Japan expresses its interest in exploration and utilization of Uzbekistan’s uranium deposits; Uzbekistan’s President is on official visit to Turkmenistan; Kazakhstan’s state-run oil and gas firm Kaz Munai Gas (KMG) to increase its crude oil output by 60 per cent by 2022

Russia

• Russia to participate in WTO General Council on October 3; Russia urges Turkey from taking steps that can escalate the prevailing tensions on its border with Syria; Russian and the US coast guards have signed a cooperation plan for 2013; Georgia looking to gradually restore normal bilateral relations with Russia; Russia and Tajikistan sign an agreement on the Russian military base in Tajikistan; Russia to purchase a whopping 39 Ilyushin -476 transport jets; South Ossetia’s Foreign Minister to visit Russia; Facebook discussing the proposal of establishing a research and development centre in Russia

West Asia

Syria

• Syrian opposition softens stance on future role for Assad party

Lebanon

• Lebanese coalition MPs slam Hezbollah ‘role in Syria’; Lebanese President attends South American-Arab Summit in Lima

Turkey

• UNSC condemns Syria attack on Turkish town; Turkish PM says ‘no intention for war’

Africa

• Trial of Henry Okah for Abuja bombings begins in South Africa; African Union troops capture the last stronghold of al-Shabaab; Egypt pledges to relax crackdown in Sinai Peninsula; European and North African leaders discuss terrorism and regional issues; Persistent attacks on Somalis in South Africa creates uncertainty; Libyan Parliament dismisses its Prime Minister; Nigerian soldiers kill thirty Boko Haram militants

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Nuclear-capable ballistic missile Dhanush successfully test-fired: New Agni series missile programmes not soon

International

• Restructuring plan of Germany’s Federal Armed Force comes into effect; South Korea’s missile programme receives a major boost with the announcement of a deal with the United States

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on 2 days visit to Ladakh: Five militants killed in Ganderbal; Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi to visit Kashmir valley; CRPF men hurt in Sopore blast

North East India

• Indefinite curfew continued for the fifth day in Dima Hisao hill district of Assam: still under curfew; Insurgents ambush policemen in Manipur; Public in agitation drive out ultras in Tamenglong, Manipur; United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) commander-in-chief arrested; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres killed in Assam: Extrajudicial killings in Manipur sought justice

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) News

• Third DG level talks took place between India and Bangladesh on narcotics; Measures to be strengthened to control drug trafficking by India and Bangladesh; Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between Central Government, Government of Assam and Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) Nunisa faction

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India’s Minister for Environment and Forests: India committed to implementation of Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety; Row over J&K at the 67th UN General Assembly session; India calls for expansion of enforcement mechanisms to destroy terrorists’ safe havens; UNSC condemns recent terrorist attacks in Aleppo, Council and UN chief call for restraint in Syrian-Turkish border areas; Peaceful resolution of disputes among the top priorities for 67th UNGA session