Country Reviews

South Asia

Afghanistan

• US Defence Secretary Gates: US 'well-positioned' to start Afghan withdrawal; UN Report: Targeted civilian killings in Afghanistan doubled last year; Reports: US private military firm formerly known as ‘Blackwater’ likely to stay on in Afghanistan

Pakistan

• President Zardari: Mistrust must not spoil US-Pakistan ties; Hillary Clinton: Walking away from Pakistan will have dire results

Bangladesh

• India-Bangladesh holds discussion over power sector cooperation; India Bangladesh set to construct 10-kilometre railway track linking Akhaura with Agartala; Exports grew by 40.28 per cent in Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2010-11; Meeting held between Border Guards of India and Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lankan PM: “LTTE terrorists were being trained at three different secret locations in Tamil Nadu”; India denies the claim by calling it unfortunate, urges Sri Lanka to desist from reacting to speculative and uncorroborated reports; Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened; The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka meets President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Gap between the sexes in Sri Lanka’s labour force is the 20th largest in the World; India allocates US$ 10.5 million for setting up a 150-bed hospital in central province; President conveyed sympathy message to Japan, allocates US$ 1 million for the earthquake victims in Japan

Maldives

• Maldives Islamic Bank inaugurated; President Nasheed visits Mauritius- receives the highest distinct Order of Merit in Mauritius; President’s sympathy message to Japan; Maldives disaster assistance to Japan; Mohamed Nasheed meets the IMF mission in Maldives to review the IMF programme in the Maldives

East Asia

China

• Liang Guanglie extends condolences to Japan and offers help; Ma Xiaotian visits Bolivia; International military cooperation stressed; Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA conducts sea-air joint patrol; The 8th Chinese naval escort taskforce participates in the “Peace 11”; Guo Boxiong underscores the importance striking a balance between military modernization and fulfilling historic missions; The need of having a proper legal framework for overseas naval missions felt; Improvement in national defense contracts told to be a priority requirement

Japan

• Japan faces the worst crisis since World War-II; Pressure mounts on Kan to quit; Takeaki Matsumoto to be the new Foreign Minister of Japan; Japan stealth jet prototype set to fly in 2014; Russia to deploy cruise missiles on Kuril Islands

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• United States calls for democratization in Central Asia; CSTO to compile a list of extremist and terrorist organizations; Anti-drug trafficking center approved; Tajikistan and Uzbekistan seek guidance on applying to WTO; Ata-Zhurt party threatens Kyrgyzstan's governing coalition while protesters demand Bakiev extradition; Tajik President visits Pakistan; Progress on Turkmen-Afghan railway link discussed; Turkmen to supply gas to China

Russia

• Russia contributes to Japan’s earthquake rescue efforts; US Vice President meets Russian leaders; US assures Russia support for its membership bid in WTO; Aeroflot and Boeing sign an agreement worth US$ 2.2 billion; Russia set to buy 500 combat vehicles from France; Russia to ratify maritime border pact with Norway within a month; Croatia introduces visa free travel regime for Russians; Medvedev asks US to ditch travel visas; Foreigner bill ratified by Duma; Modernization of armed forces a key agenda for the Russian government; Weapons sales exports estimated to be $9.5 billion US$ in 2011; Russia’s steel company MMK takes full control over Turkish joint venture

West Asia

Iran

• Robert Einhorn: United States was not looking for new UN Security Council sanctions but rather focusing on steps taken on its own and in concert with allies

Iraq

• Iraq’s Deputy PM Saleh al-Mutlaq: Prime Minister Maliki should step down if fails to meet deadline for improving performance; Seven Iraqi soldiers killed in Mosul by gunmen

Libya, Yemen, Egypt

• Security forces open fire on protesting students in Saana University in Yemen; Egypt: New Prime Minister and Cabinet sworn in; Gaddafi forces regain control over the rebel stronghold

USA

• Concerns expressed over safety of US nuclear reactors

Defence Review

National

• SIPRI report: India becomes the world’s largest arms importer; Defence Minister A K Antony: India still has a long way to go to attain self-reliance in defence production

International

• Russia deploys RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM); Pakistan successfully tests one more nuclear nuclear-capable missile

United Nations (UN) Review

• IBSA disapproves the imposition of a military solution on the civil war in Libya; U.N. Security Council condemns violence by pirates on Somalian coasts; UNSC welcomes African Union’s move on Cote d’ Ivoire; World community called on to provide assistance in Somalia