COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan
(FEBRUARY 6-12)

• Seven people killed in car bomb attack on the Southern Afghan city of Kandahar; US Admiral Bill McRaven: Special operations forces in Afghanistan are preparing for a possible expanded role as American forces begin to withdraw after a decade of war

Pakistan
(FEBRUARY 6-12)

• Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar: Pakistan would be willing to push the Afghan militant groups like the Haqqani network and the Taliban to make peace if asked to do so by the Afghan government; Pakistan and Qatar to collaborate on energy and trade; Pakistan and Russia agreed to enhance cooperation in trade and energy and people-to-people contacts

Bangladesh

• India agrees to nearly double the annual maintenance fees it pays to Bangladesh for using waterways facilities; US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake emphasises increased engagement of Bangladesh with Afghanistan; Bangladesh seeks Thai support in becoming member of ASEM

Sri Lanka

• President Rajapaksa visits Singapore; Japanese grant to improve healthcare services in Sri Lanka; Sri Lankan Army appoints a court of inquiry; Iran ensures uninterrupted oil supply to Sri Lanka at reasonable price

Maldives

• Indian Foreign Secretary visits Maldives; US working closely with India to resolve the political crisis in the Maldives; Commonwealth Ministerial Mission visits Maldives; China makes its first official statement regarding the recent political development in Maldives; President Waheed met EU delegation and Inter Parliamentary Union’s Director of Programmes

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Vietnam- China to boost diplomatic exchanges; Bomb blasts rock Thailand; Thai opposition warns of the situation in Southern Thailand; India appreciates reforms in Myanmar; EU begins lifting sanctions imposed on Myanmar

Central Asia

• Berdimuhamedov sworn in as Turkmen president for second time; Turkmenistan forges deal with Russia for T-90C war tanks; Atambayev to seek compensation from Kremlin for Kyrgyz military facilities; Kyrgyz republic to sharply reduce its external debts; Uzbek and Indian telecom firms sign joint venture agreement; Kazakhstan ready to provide nuclear fuel to India; Tajik-Uzbek governments resume talks on border issues

West Asia

Iran

• Israel warns Iran for attacks in Delhi, Bangkok and Georgia; Loyalists of Khamenei look set to triumph in Iran’s parliamentary elections; Ahmadinejad visits Pakistan

Iraq

• At least twenty people killed in suicide bombing in Iraqi Police Academy in Baghdad

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmier

• Khanyar police station in North Kashmir attacked; Home Minister P. Chidambaram claims Country’s security as a joint responsibility; Jammu and Kashmir joins opposed groups on NCTC; Youth shot dead in Sopore, North Kashmir

North East India

• Former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai remarks that the Centre is unlikely to accede to Garoland; NDFB (P) urges Centre to expedite talks; Ban on Manipur rail project lifted temporarily; Manipuri militant arrested in Guwahati, Assam; NLFT leader nabbed in Bangladesh

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India votes against Syria’s Assad regime in UNGA; Mandate of panel of experts on Sudan sanctions extended; Security Council alarmed at malnutrition levels in Sudan; Security Council delegation visits Haiti; UN General Assembly president meets Indian PM; India discusses post-2020 climate regime with BASIC counterparts