COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Nominated Interior Minister Atmar pledges to recruit an additional 63,000 police personnel over the next four years; NATO Chief Rasmussen promises to stand by Afghanistan : 8 people killed in a suicide attack in Kandahar; German Defence Minister: Afghanistan’s political system not suited for democracy; Gordon Brown discusses London Summit plan with President Karzai

Pakistan

• Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticizes the new US Afghan strategy, says drone attacks in Balochistan not acceptable; Admiral Mike Mullen: Pakistan not credited enough for fighting the militants; Gilani: No disagreements between the PPP and the army; Nawaz Sharif ready to meet Zardari for ‘result-oriented’ talks; IMF sanctions a tranche of $ 1.2 billion to Pakistan after reviewing the economic progress in the country; Musharraf may be tried for ‘defiance of law’

East Asia

China

• China and US hold consultations on Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: Kazak Defence Minister Visits China: A Draft Law that Empowers the Government to Levy Compulsory Military Service on Citizens Submitted for a Second Reading: The Third Task Force Returns from the Gulf of Aden: National Geographical Information Security is vital to national core interest, says a Senior Official

Japan (Nov 30-Dec 27, 2009)

• Japan undecided on relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma; Japan willing to help countries in creating a free trade area in the region; Government welcomes the new US Afghan strategy; popularity of the elected government drops by 50 percent according to a poll

Korean Peninsula (Nov 30-Dec 27, 2009)

• South Korea and Japan failed yet to decide the date to resume the bilateral free trade negotiations; South Korea plans to apply preferential tariff system to developing countries; North Korea wants the UN sanctions for nuclear defiance to be revoked

Southeast Asia

• Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to strengthen their bilateral ties; Abhisit admits lack of improvement in the bilateral relationship between Thailand and Cambodia, however, denies resorting to violence against the neighbouring state

West Asia

Iran

• US warns Iran on the deadline of its nuclear program; Massive clashes on the streets in Tehran between the opposition and the police

Iraq

• Dozens killed in series of bomb blasts in Iraq

DEFENCE REVIEW

Defence National

• Home Ministry unveils draft policy on Arms and Ammunitions
• India, Israel to step up defence cooperation
• Navy’s Submarine strength hit by delays
• Hindustan Shipyard is now under Defence Ministry