COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan
April 5-11

• Obama: Karzai remains "a critical partner" in the fight against terrorism; NATO Chief: NATO gets very good cooperation from Karzai; Romania announces increase in troops level to 1,800; Taliban attacks Indian camp in Afghanistan; US officials allege that ISI released Afghan Taliban insurgents; Wolesi Jirga MPs rejects annual budget; Top Afghan election officials resign; McChrystal: US troops to stay in Afghanistan as long as needed; US Air Force ‘Osprey’ crashes in southern Afghanistan

April 12-18

• Holbrooke says Karzai's administration is “a government we can work with”; Obama: US will not be in Afghanistan “in perpetuity”; Kazakhstan to allow the US use of its air space for troops and weapons movement to Afghanistan; Germany to beef up its military presence; Six people including three foreigners killed in suicide car bomb attack in Kandahar

Pakistan
April 5-11

• Gilani to attend the Nuclear Security Summit; National Command Authority says country’s nuclear assets are safe; Australia withholds sale of scientific equipment to Pakistan fearing WMD misuse; 18th amendment passed by National Assembly; Gilani says Army not interfering in government’s affairs; 60 civilians killed in air strikes in Khyber Agency

April 12-18

• PM Gilani: Pakistan’s participation at the nuclear security summit endorses the legitimacy of its nuclear programme; Obama reiterates scope for further improvement in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons security; UN report states lack of ‘adequate security’ was responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in 2007; 7 people killed and 100 injured in protests against renaming of NWFP in Abbottabad

East Asia

China
April 5-11

• Russian and Chinese defence officials discuss bilateral defence ties; Guided-missile frigate involved in anti-piracy operations strengthens its training programme; China International Defense Electronics Exhibition to be held from May 12-14, 2010

April 12-18

• PLA involved in relief operations in earthquake-hit Qinghai; Beijing assuages concerns about its naval flotilla; Exclusive show of J-10 fighters organized for foreign military attaches

Japan
April 5-11

• PM Hatoyama urges greater transparency in Chinese military capabilities; Okada welcomes new US policy of limiting the use of nuclear arms; Approval rating for Hatoyama cabinet falls to 33 per cent; New ‘Stand up Japan’ party formed ahead of July polls; Okada tells Clinton that the plan to relocate the Futenma airfield as agreed in 2006 "would be difficult to realize"

April 12-18

• Chinese naval flotilla raises concerns; Foreign Minister Okada welcomes US NPR negative security assurances; Japan grants visa to Dalai Lama and Uyghur rebel leader despite Chinese protests

Southeast Asia
April 5-11

• 16th ASEAN Summit meeting held in Hanoi; Agreement for $2 billion 1200 MW coal-fired thermal power plant project in Hai Duong Province in Vietnam signed; Malaysia to emphasize on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; Thai government declares state of emergency, seeks truce talks with the UDD; NLD decides not to contest upcoming general elections

April 12-18

• Malaysia’s Razak meets with Obama in Washington, reiterates willingness to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership initiated by Obama administration; Razak arrives at Tokyo on April 18 on a four-day visit; Multiple bomb blasts in Rangoon kill 9 and injure over 75; Thai and Cambodian troops exchange fire near the border

West Asia

Iran
April 5-11

• Iran prepared for a fuel swap on its own territory; Third generation centrifuges unveiled; Dr. El-Baradei: Western nations seeking harsher sanctions ‘out of frustration’

April 12-18

• US military official says Iran is another three to five years from actually producing a “deliverable weapon”; Former president Khatami barred from traveling abroad; Khamenei: Use of nuclear arms against Islam

Iraq
April 5-11

• Serial bomb blasts kill 35 in Baghdad

April 12-18

• Secular Alliance wants Iranian support

DEFENCE REVIEW

National Defence

• Chidambaram justifies India’s defence expenditure
• DRDO developing sub-sonic 1000 km cruise missile
• IAF’s new airbase at Phalodi, Rajasthan
• Report: Chinese hackers steal India’s strategic secrets