COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan
January 2-8, 2012

• Reports: Afghan Taliban reaches a preliminary agreement to set up a political office, possibly in Qatar; NATO plans to withdraw $30 billion worth of military equipment and gear from Afghanistan

January 9-15, 2012

• Kandahar police chief escapes suicide attack; Afghan Taliban: Taliban’s political wing is ready to enter peace talks to end the war in Afghanistan, but the insurgents will in the meantime continue their armed struggle

Pakistan
January 2-8, 2012

• President Obama signed a bill into law that could suspend a large chunk of US military aid to Pakistan; Karachi port faces severe congestion due to US ships carrying military hardware; PM Gilani reassures support for new provinces; 15 security officers killed by Taliban; PPP decides to hold senate elections in mid-February

January 9-15, 2012

• Ex President Gen Musharraf vows to return to Pakistan; Pakistan Defence Secretary Naeem Lodhi sacked; Army Chief Gen Kayani meet its top commanders amidst a widening rift between the powerful armed forces and the civilian government; US urges Pakistan to “really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes the Balochistan issue forward”

Bangladesh
January 2-8, 2012

• Foreign Minister Dipu Moni rejects the notion that Bangladesh foreign policy is India tilted; Bangladesh signs a deal with China for the construction of the seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge; Bangladesh signs a $300 million energy infrastructure loan agreement with the ADB; Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh meets PM Hasina

January 9-15, 2012

• PM Hasina visits to Indian state Tripura; PM Hasina sought assistance from UNICEF; USAID will provide $922 million to Bangladesh

Srilanka
January 2-8, 2012

• EAM Krishna: “Security wise, we are dependent on Sri Lanka – there are large security concerns that can affect both countries in the Indian Ocean”; India to provide loan to Sri Lanka for the restoration of Northern Railway service; Navies of Sri Lanka and India held meeting to discuss fishing activities and naval operations; No charges for the SL refugees returning from Tamil Nadu; Annual average rate of inflation stabilized at the mid-single digit level at the end of 2011; IMF ready to discuss any Sri Lankan request for a follow up programme to its current US$2.6 billion loan programme

January 9-15, 2012

• Sri Lanka to officially turn down India’s proposal to share their territorial waters by fishermen; Volume of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and India increases in the first 11 months of 2011; Sri Lanka is to establish a Resident Diplomatic Mission in the Ukraine; No. of IDPS in Sri Lanka decline; Drop reported in the No. of Sri Lankan refuges returning home; The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sought insights from the findings and recommendations of the Truth Commission of South Africa; Sri Lanka to defy rules and regulations stipulated by the UPU

Maldives
January 2-8, 2012

• Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation & Nuclear Safety meets President Nasheed; President Nasheed sent message of sympathy to President of Philippines and Brazil; Maldivian government lifted the nationwide ban on spas and massage parlors; Maldives will take part in the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime

January 9-15, 2012

• Meeting held between President Nasheed and Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy

East Asia

China
January 2-15, 2012

• Chinese Premier Wen urges greater China-Saudi business links; Wen meets Nepalese PM, leaders of political parties; China, India to hold border talks; Chinese envoy to attend Libyan president's inauguration; China calls for negotiation on Iran nuclear issue; China, ROK president concludes China visit Uzbekistan to strengthen ties; China refutes reports of Indian diplomat's mistreatment

Southeast Asia
January 2-8, 2012

• William Hague concludes Myanmar visit; Philippines protests Chinese ‘intrusion’ in South China Sea; Three million Catholics gather despite terror threat in Philippines; Chief of Indian Army Staff visits Myanmar; Cambodia reassures of its ASEAN responsibilities

West Asia

Iran
January 2-8, 2012

• Iran successfully tested long range missile during naval war games; Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani sentenced six months on the charge of spreading propaganda against the Islamic system; IRGC general: US forces should leave the region to prevent undesirable consequences

January 9-15, 2012

• Iran’s Judiciary orders the execution of suspected CIA agent Amir Mirza-Hekmati; Iran’s nuclear scientist killed in bomb attack; Senior UN nuclear inspectors expected to visit Iran soon

Iraq
January 2-8, 2012

• 72 people killed in coordinated attacks in Iraq

January 9-15, 2012

• 53 pilgrims killed in suicide bomb attack in Basra

Bahrain
January 9-15, 2012

• Bahrain: King Hamad announces reforms

Saudi Arabia
January 9-15, 2012

• Saudi Arabia signs nuclear cooperation agreement with China

DEFENCE REVIEW

National
January 2-8, 2012

• Army Chief on Myanmar visit; Army conducted a two-day major disaster management exercise

International
January 2-8, 2012

• Israeli premier Netanyahu announces an increase of nearly $700 million in Israel’s defence budget; China wary of new US defence policy

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir
January 2-8, 2012

• Student killed in protest in Baramulla; Police busted LeT and HM modules in Bandipora; One killed and five injured in militant attacks in Sopore

January 9-15, 2012

• Centre claims that there was no proposal from Jammu and Kashmir Govenment on AFSPA review

Northeast India
January 2-8, 2012

• Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other associate organisations resume blockade against NHPC in North Lakhimpur for an indefinite period; Manipur dailies protest with blank editorials; Election Commission team arriving in Manipur; High Alert in Upper Assam; Security tightened in Agartala, Tripura ahead of the visit of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina

January 9-15, 2012

• Citizenship likely to be granted to Chakma and Hajong refugees in Arunachal Pradesh; Three people injured in a turf war between members of the two factions of NSCN; Seven injured in Manipur blast; Reports: Peace pact with DHD (J) almost finalized; Central team reviews Manipur law and order situation; Three North-East outfits pledge against use of land mines

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

January 2-8, 2012

• UN Security Council to hold debate on cooperation between UN and regional organizations; UN expresses concern over terrorist attacks in Syria

January 9-15, 2012

• UN Security Council encourages Guniea-Bissau to preserve stability during transition; UNSC calls for support to peacekeeping mission in Somalia; India makes a strong pitch for African membership in UNSC; UNSC calls for reconciliation between warring communities in South Sudan