COUNTRY REVIEW

Iraq

• Iraqi Defence Minister: Iraqi forces may not be ready to defend the country at least till 2018; GAO criticizes Iraqi reconstruction efforts; Heavy fighting near Basra and Nassiriya

China

• China-US Strategic Dialogue held; Dr. Singh: Major powers to be bound together in economic dependency in a multi-polar world

Japan

• US, Japan agree on omitting Japanese fuel-verification steps; Japanese Foreign Minister: Its all-right as long as India and Japan get in to the UNSC

Myanmar

• Jairam Ramesh: India to develop Sitwe port

SOUTH ASIA

Afghanistan

• Gates’ comments on NATO troops functioning draws criticisms, apologises to Dutch Defence Minister;

Pakistan

• NYT: ISI loosing control of militant groups; Scotland Yard: Al Qaeda responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination; Suicide bomber hits Peshawar; Swat Valley cleared of militants

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh may lift emergency, says chief adviser Ahmed; Hasina formally charged by a Dhaka court

Nepal

• UNMIN emphasizes need to accommodate rights of ethnic and marginalized groups; Apprehensions over the CA polls

Sri Lanka

• Ban ki Moon stresses on dialogue to resolve impasse; SLMM: Military means cannot resolve the conflict; Norway’s role as the facilitator of peace process emphasized

NUCLEAR REVIEW

Pakistan

• Musharraf: Pakistani nuclear and missile programme completely safe

India

• China, Britain and France support India’s civil nuclear aspirations; Burns to resign, might be appointed as Special Envoy to nuclear deal; Karat: Nuclear agreement will not go forward; Australia reverses decision to sell uranium to India, remains undeci

North Korea

• Debate continues within Bush administration on position vis-à-vis the delay on the North Korea denuclearisation; Pyongyang blames Washington for the delay

Iran

• Angela Merkel: Pressure should be maintained on Tehran; Saeed Jalili to talk to Chinese official about Iran’s nuclear programme; US lobbies for Chinese support for new round of sanctions; China opposes sanctions favours dialogue

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Northeast Insurgency

• New NSCN faction in Nagaland; NSCN-IM charges Union govt. of using vested interests

Maoist Insurgency

• Six Maoists killed in Bihar; Bangladeshis suspected of ISI links arrested

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

RUSSIA-BULGARIA INK $15 BILLION GAS PIPELINE DEAL

• 550-mile long South Stream pipeline, bypassing Turkey with a 50 per cent stake in construction and operation

IRANIAN MINISTER DANESH MEETS DEORA

• Iran welcomes Indian private and public sector participation in developing Iranian gas fields

EAM ON A TWO-DAY VISIT TO OMAN

• India eyes excess gas from Oman