COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

February 4-10

• Afghanistan, Pakistan and UK leaders to urge Taliban for dialogue; Defence Secretary of UK pays a visit to Afghanistan; UN report says bribe payment higher in Afghanistan than domestic revenue

February 11-17

• President Barack Obama: 34,000 troops would be pulled out of Afghanistan in the next year; US starts pulling out hardware through Pakistan; NATO airstrike kills ten Afghan civilians

Pakistan

February 4-10

• Taliban names three guarantors for peace talks; Government admits breaching debt limits; ECP exempts constitutional institutions from recruitment

February 11-17

• Pakistan test fires Hatf IX missile; Pakistan test fires Hatf II Abdali missile; President Asif Ali Zardari: Consensus will be achieved on the caretaker government and date for elections

Bangladesh

February 4-10

• Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai visits Bangladesh; Dipu Moni attends OIC Summit; Bhutanese Foreign Minister Ugen Tshering honoured with the “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War”.

Sri Lanka

February 4-10

• President Mahinda Rajapaksa visits India; Sri Lanka objects CMAG's decision to include Sri Lanka as an agenda item at its upcoming meeting; Commonwealth Secretary General visits Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka expresses its objections to the draft report prepared by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Sri Lanka to be submitted at the 22nd session of the UNHRC; Japan offers grant to expedite de-mining process in Sri Lanka’s North

February 11-17

• Discussions are underway to transfer the Norochcholai coal power plant to the Chinese company; G.L. Peiris met Sheikh Hasina; Sri Lanka reiterates its concern about the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK; Writ petition to close down the Indian High Commission and Embassy at Sri Lanka; Two Vice Presidents of ICJ and Pakistan’s Chief Justice have contradicted the letter issued to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Council President Dr. Adish C. Agrawal approving the impeachment of Chief Justice

Maldives

February 4-10

• President Waheed visits to Egypt

February 11-17

• Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives D M Mulay summoned to the Foreign Ministry of the Maldives; MDP protesters have called to withdraw charges against former president; Indian High Commissioner met PPM Parliamentary group leader; India-Maldives holds joint exercise; UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers met President

East Asia

China

February 4-10

• Haijian 137 continues patrolling Diaoyu Islands; China accuses Japan of tarnishing its image; China in favour of a widely accepted Syrian solution; Xi Jinping calls for enhancing combat preparedness; China against escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula; Second joint industrial park launched by China and Malaysia; China prepared to help peace talks in Myanmar.

February 11-17

• Chinese fleet expected to conduct joint exercise with Pakistan in March; Xi Jinping promises support for African development; Chinese marine ships continue to patrol Diaoyu waters; Chinese and Russian foreign ministers talk over phone discussing the DPRK nuclear tests; China announces that it “firmly” opposes DPRK nuclear test.

Japan

February 4-10

• Japan alleges China of using fire control radar on MSDF; Japanese Defense Minister insists on constructing a hotline between the defense authorities of Japan and China; Japan, US, South Korea to boost ties on the North Korean nuclear issue; Japan sets up new office to deal with territorial issues

February 11-17

• Japanese Diet insists on imposing further sanctions on North Korea following the latter’s third nuclear test; Japan is set to join the Hague Convention; Tokyo and Washington to seek tougher UN Sanctions on North Korea; Tokyo and Seoul to cooperate on North Korean nuclear issue

South Korea

February 4-10

• Seoul protests against the establishment of office to deal with territorial issues in Japan; South Korean Navy chief insists on bolster blue water capabilities to handle major security challenges

February 11-17

• Seoul’s Defense Ministry vows to accelerate the processes of building a new warfare plan against weapons of mass destruction.

West Asia

Jordan

February 4-10

• King Abdullah calls for electoral reforms

Turkey

February 11-17

• Turkey to renew peace talks with PKK

Israel/Palestine

February 11-17

• Israel and Hamas hold indirect talks.

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

February 11-17

• India and France conclude final negotiations on Surface to Air Missile worth $6 billion; Defence minister pleads for a proactive role by India in West Asia region.

International

February 4-10

• US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: Budget cuts could hinder U.S. ability to mitigate crises overseas; Japan exploring arms manufacturing avenues.

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

February 4-10

• Election Commission of India announces legislative council polls for 8 seats in Jammu & Kashmir; Afzal Guru hanged on 9th February; Protests against hanging of Afzal Guru; Protestors injured in Watergam, North Kashmir; Three persons held for threatening Kashmir’s all girls band

February 11-17

• Protest calendar issued by Hurriyat (G); Kashmir under curfew stress; Centre allows family to visit Afzal Guru’s grave; Protest erupted in the wake of curfew upliftment

North East India

February 4-10

• Road projects in North-East reviewed by Centre; Carrying of weapons by NSCN groups banned; Chief Minister of Manipur rejects alternative arrangement for Nagas; Bangladeshi linkman of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB); Tawang II hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh cleared

February 11-17

• Development work to be undertaken by India and Bangladesh within 150 yards of the Zero Line along the international border; Rabha Hasong poll violence in Goalpara, Assam leaves few dead; Peaceful polling in Tripura; Land swap deal with Bangladesh cleared by Union Government; 3 militant outfits of Manipur sign MOU; Israel ready to share expertise with North-East.

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

February 11-17

• UN Security Council welcomes political process in Yemen; UNSC condemns nuclear test by DPRK; UNSC extends mandates of panel of experts in Sudan and UN mission in Burundi; India and US discuss peacekeeping operations