COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• 44 people, including Indian Defence Attache and Counsellor killed in Kabul suicide attack; 46 coalition soldiers killed in June, highest casualty figure in a month since 2001; IASF air strike reportedly kills 15 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

Pakistan

• A.Q. Khan: Pakistan delivered centrifuges to North Korea in 2000; 30 soldiers abducted in Kurram; Security forces clear Khyber agency of militants; Boucher visits Islamabad

Nepal

• Political deadlock continues; Indigenous groups resist Madhesi demands; 23 new CA members sworn in; Communist leaders blame India for the Terai problem; UNMIN term extended; India expresses support for flood management in Nepal

Bangladesh

• AL sticks to its six-point demand in talks with government; BNP not to take disciplinary action against candidates participating in August 4 local elections

Sri Lanka

• VIP helicopter comes under attack; EPDP-TMVP on collision course; Karuna: LTTE 'very weak’; Wanni facing starvation after Omanthai closure

East Asia

China

• CPC magazine celebrates 50th anniversary; First chartered flight between mainland and Taiwan lands; China-Uzbekistan section of the Central Asian gas pipeline inaugurated

Myanmar

• UN Secretary General calls for ‘genuine democracy’; Bush calls for release of Suu Kyi; Cyclone relief work continuing

West Asia

Iraq

• Zebari: SOFA agreement not likely in the current year; Obama insists there is no change in his position regarding bringing back US troops; UAE writes off $4 bn of Iraqi debts

Iran

• Clerics and reformist parties to back Mohammad Khatami in the next presidential elections; Saeed Jalili and M.K. Narayanan discuss aspects of India-Iran relations; Cirincione: US not cooperating with Solana

US ELECTION REVIEW

• Obama campaign optimistic of making a dent in the Republican South; Obama for expansion in the delivery of social services through religious organisations; Lake: Iran crisis the biggest American foreign policy challenge; McCain revamps his campaign team

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Ghulam Nabi Azad resigns; Cabinet revokes SASB land transfer order; 12 militants and six soldiers killed in encounter

Maoist Insurgency

• 32 Greyhound commandos killed in Maoist attack; Indian Express: Maoists active in 22 states

NorthEast Insurgency

• Dr. Manmohan Singh unveils ‘North East Vision 2020’; Six killed in Assam blast

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

Natural Gas

• Petroleum Minister Deora: India, Pak, Iran to sign IPI deal in the current month; Iranian Oil Minister: Tehran open to discussion on the issue of delivery point of gas provided deal is implemented soon

GeoPolitics

• Reports: US State Department influenced awarding of oil contracts; Congressional Committee criticizes deal made by Hunt oil with Kurdistan regional government

Exploration and Production

• ONGC to consider investing $10 bn in Canadian tar sands