COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Pakistan

• Government bans Jamatud Daawa; Defence Committee of Cabinet decides to cooperate with India in fighting terror; More than 200 NATO trucks burnt in Peshawar by militants

Bangladesh

• EC facing a plethora of difficulties ahead of the parliamentary elections; Political parties announce their election manifestoes

East and Southeast Asia

Myanmar

• Junta orders major Air Force base relocated; NLD contemplating contesting in the 2010 general elections; UN: Aid flow hampering relief effortsv

  China

  • China, Japan, South Korea establish ‘tripartite partnership’; US, China delegations meet to discuss bilateral and regional issues; China and India conduct anti-terror drill; CPC Vice-Minister says door open for negotiations with Dalai Lama

  West Asia

  Iran

  • Iran hopes Obama will follow a policy ‘based on interaction’; Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency deputy head: Iran 7th country to produce UF6: Iran to ask OPEC to cut oil output

  Iraq

  • Britain to start withdrawing its remaining troops in March 2009; Suicide bomber kills 48 in Kirkuk

  INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

  • United Jihad Council dissolved temporarily; Former Governor Lt. Gen. Sinha criticizes the government’s “warped approach” on pension benefits to families of killed terrorists

  Maoist Insurgency

  • Maoists gun down 5 policemen

  NorthEast Development

  • Train blast kills 3 in Assam

  Other Development

  • Parliament condemns Mumbai terror attacks with one voice; Pranab Mukherjee: Kashmir issue has no link to terror in India