COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Afghanistan President Karzai and Pakistan President Zardari meet in New York

Pakistan

• Pakistan and China sign document on bilateral military cooperation; President Putin postpones Pakistan visit; President Zardari attends 67th session of the UN General Assembly

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh welcomes World Bank’s decision to re-engage in the Padma bridge; Maitree bus service on Agartala-Dhaka route suspended; DG level border conference of BGB and BSF; PM addressed 67th UNGA; China proposes to invest in four mega infrastructure projects in Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

• Manik farm IDP Camp is closed; Sri Lanka reiterates its solidarity with Palestine

Maldives

• Vice President Waheed Deen attends 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China organised by Chinese Embassy in Maldives; President attends the launching of second Climate Vulnerability Monitor hosted by Bangladesh; Secretary General, SAARC meets Vice President

Central Asia & Russia

Russia

• Russia and Venezuela set up joint venture to develop Orinoco Oil Belt; Russia has proposed to hold Iran-Six meeting in October; Luxembourg Prime Minister to discuss bilateral ties with President Putin in Moscow; Private capital helps develop new firearms in Russia; Russia to lower oil export duties for new deposits in Eastern Siberia; Russia-China trade stands at about US$ 50 billion in the first six months of the year 2012; A new unit of a nuclear power plant has become operational in Russia; Russia’s foreign debt stands at US$ 41 billion in August 2012; Moscow to continue to facilitate resumption of Palestine-Israel talks; Russia expresses hope of signing a visa cancellation agreement with the EU at 2013 December summit; Russia hopes NATO will ask for UN for permission to train Afghan military; CIS heads of states to meet in Yalta to discuss the ratification of the free trade zone agreement in the region among other things; Russia tests a ‘future soldier uniform’; Soccer World Cup to coast Russia 600 billion roubles

West Asia

Syria

• Syrian delegation holds official meetings at UN headquarters; UN commission to investigate war crimes in Syria

Lebanon

• Lebanese President Michel Sleiman: Dissociation policy has protected Lebanon

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Western Air Command gets boost with the induction of SU-30 MKI; Army Chief acknowledges shortage of officers

International

• NATO’s Deputy Secretary General: “Not much progress” has been made with Russia on the issue of missile defence cooperation; Panetta hopeful about F-35 Joint Strike Fighters deal with Lockheed Martin

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Panchayat representatives quit in fear; President on a three day visit to valley; Hurriyat Conference calls for shutdown in protest to President’s visit; Jammu and Kashmir State legislature autumn session to begin on October 1; Militants and soldier killed in a gunfight in Kupwara

North East India

• One person killed in a blast in Dima Hisao District, Assam; Blast in Manipur; Large number of districts in Assam hit by floods; Blockade in Assam-Mizoram highway; Huge number of rebels surrender in Manipur; Centre extends ceasefire with National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) (P) faction; Another blast in Manipur leaves Assam Rifles (AR) personnel and civilian dead

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• 67th General Assembly Session: India calls on G-77 to adopt growth promoting policies; India calls for immediate phasing out of unilateral sanctions against Myanmar; India: Peaceful settlement of disputes key to international peace and security; Russia supports India’s bid to UNSC; India supports cooperation to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMDs; India to host UN conference on biodiversity; UN Security Council commends progress made by Sudan and South Sudan; UNSC calls on all parties in Yemen to actively participate in the democratic process