COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Presidential run-off election to be held on November 7; Taliban threatens to disrupt the process; Gates: NATO to send more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan; New British Army Chief: War against Taliban and al-Qaeda can be won; Gen. McChrystal: ISAF to establish new NATO headquarters to oversee training of Afghan National Security Forces; Obama administration appreciates India’s developmental contribution in Afghanistan

Pakistan

• Security situation worsens, attack on Islamabad University kills 6 and injures over 30; Balochistan’s Education Minister shot dead in Quetta; 60 militants killed in South Waziristan, another 24 killed in Wana; Kerry: US not forcing Pakistan to accept money; US Congress imposes fresh limitations on military aid to Pakistan

East Asia

China

• Robust military-to-military cooperation with other countries deepens; Indian DSSC delegation visits China: Chinese defence officials visit DPRK, Singapore and Papua New Guinea; Eighth Sino-Thai Defence and Security Consultation held; Uzbek Defense Minister visits China; PLA conducts ‘Airborne Maneuver 2009’ exercise; ‘Vanguard 2009A’ concludes; Chinese Navy to cooperate with other navies in Indian Ocean; Xi’an satellite control centre becomes operational; SAEC, the ‘officers’ cradle of missile troops,’ celebrates 50th anniversary; CMC Vice-Chairman calls for strengthening minority nationality officer ranks

Korea(October 5-25)

• US expects Seoul to offer economic assistance to Afghanistan if it has difficulty sending troops; Two US military bases in central Korea likely to be closed in 2010; South Korea to increase budget for inter-Korean economic cooperation projects in 2010 by 30 per cent; Seoul to launch a 3,000-strong military unit in 2010 for peacekeeping operations; UN envoy for North Korea criticizes human rights situation in that country as "abysmal"; Asia Society urges Obama administration to engage economically with North Korea on a long-term basis

Southeast Asia

• 15th ASEAN summit held in Hua Hin city of Thailand from October 23-25; ASEAN Inter governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) launched; Burma’s Gen. Their Sein attends the Summit; Japan urges Indonesia to play a vital role in realizing the proposed East Asia community; Yudhoyono takes oath as President of Indonesia for the second time; Malaysian police detain boat carrying 18 Afghan immigrants trying to sail to Indonesia, on their way to Australia; An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 strikes Jakarta on October 16

West Asia

Iran

• Russia agrees to enrich uranium for Iran; UN team visits Qom facility

Iraq

• Twin suicide attacks kill 136 in Baghdad; Iraqi MPs fail to agree on election law

DEFENCE REVIEW

National Defence

• India-US air exercises begin at Agra
  
• MoD seeks safeguards on FDI in defence production
• Navy to get its own dedicated communication satellite in 2010; Air Force and Army to follow suit
• Boeing submits $2 billion IAF helicopter bid

International Defence

• Russia to continue arms supplies to Iran