COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Afghanistan Interior Minister: Number of rebel attacks increased by 40 percent compared to previous week; CRS: War in Afghanistan costs the US $223 billion

Pakistan

• Targeted killings against political activists kill 13 in Karachi; Suicide attack on Peshawar hotel claims 11; Anti-Taliban cleric killed in Lahore; Gen. Kayani visits Mingora; Defence budget increased to Rs. 343 billion

East and SouthEast Asia

Japan

• Proposal to reorganize Ministry of Defence being considered; LDP calls for acquisition of the capacity to strike enemy missile sites; The Diet endorses the signing of an international treaty to ban the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs

South Korea

• President Lee: Seoul not to make any compromises in the face of heightened threats from Pyongyang; US PACAF pledge to provide F-22’s if required; Biden calls for strict enforcement of UN sanctions against Pyongyang

South Asia

• Thai Prime Minister visits Malaysia and Cambodia; Suu Kyi’s trial postponed by the military junta; MP’s urge PM Singh to make efforts in securing the release of Suu Kyi; Dispute over South China Sea waters continues between China and Vietnam

West Asia

Iran

• Landslide victory for Ahmadinejad but opposition alleges rigging and fraud; Iran-India sign consular agreements

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Indian Army to induct field network centric artillery weapons system

• Russian to lease K-152 Nerpa nuclear submarine for ten years

International

• IAI to showcase new products and systems at International Paris Air Show, June 2009

• DRS bags $22 million US Army heavy ammunition trailers award

• BAE Systems bags the US armoured vehicles upgrade contract

• SBAC Chief: UK aerospace industry in danger

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

• ONGC Chairman: Company may have had losses amounting to Rs. 30 billion ($630 million) during the last fiscal year

• Myanmar firm keen to export 500MW power to Bangladesh

• Iran, Pakistan sign gas pipeline

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Omar Abdullah favours pre-1989 era troop levels in J&K; P Chidambaram: Talks with separatists at appropriate time; No Taliban in Kashmir

Maoist Insurgency

• 20 policemen killed in Jharkhand in three days