COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• President Barack Obama speaks to Afghan President Karzai to discuss efforts to reconcile with elements of the Taliban; US Defence Secretary Panetta apologises to the Afghan people over Koran burning

Pakistan

• US Charge d’Affaire Hoagland summoned by Pakistan’s Foreign Office over Balochistan; Pakistan Foreign Minister slated to meet Clinton; Prime Minister Gilani urges Taliban leaders and other Afghan insurgent groups to take part in a peace process

Bangladesh

• India assures Bangladesh that the incidents of Border Security Force firing along the border will be brought to zero; Bangladesh aims export to India to increase to $ 1 bn by June this year; Bangladeshi businessmen urges Indian high commission in Dhaka to simplify the visa procedures; India orders an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collapse of two sluice gates of Farakka Barrage; Verbal decision on canceling deal with World Bank to construct Padma Bridge

Srilanka

• Sri Lankan delegation left to attend 19th session of the UNHRC; Alistair Burt: The UK still believes that a process led in Sri Lanka is better than one led internationally; Thirty illegal migrant returned to Sri Lanka from Togo

Maldives

• Vice President designate Mohamed Waheeduddeen met with Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa; President Waheed met Inter Parliamentary Union’s Director of Programmes; Special Advisor to the President met Alistair Burt; Special Advisor to the President presented a letter from President Waheed, to Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations; United States Ambassador to the Maldives Patricia A. Butenis paid a courtesy call on President

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Thai Authorities question terror suspects; Vietnam, Philippines set up Joint Maritime Commission; Myanmar inks peace pact with Mon ethnic rebels; UN Envoy urges world to lift Myanmar sanctions; Indonesian court rejects Abu Bakar’s plea

Central Asia

• Kyrgyz president on a three day visit to Russia; Kyrgyz Premier visits Astana; USA confirms not to use Manas to attack Iran; US officials negotiate new agreements with Central Asia for alternative transit route; Reshuffling of governmental posts in the Turkmenistan; Rise in official number of drug addicts in Kyrgyzstan

Russia
(FEBRUARY 13-19)

• Gazprom lowers gas prices for long term contracts with the EU and Turkey; Russia votes against the Egyptian led UN resolution on Syria; Egyptian Parliament to adopt resolution on Russia’s pre-election situation; Skolkovo Foundation to showcase Russia’s innovation possibilities; Front line Sukhoi 24 bombers to be replaced by Su-34s by 2020; Russia is ready to build a constructive relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt; Russia denies allegations that it has supplied offensive weapons to Syria; Russian and UAE foreign ministers to discuss the Syria situation in Moscow; Majority of Latvians against giving official status to Russian language; Foreign Minister to tour Netherlands on an official visit; Russia hopes to finish all negotiations to become a part of OECD by late 2013; League of Voters and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation agreed to cooperate in the upcoming Presidential elections in Russia

(FEBRUARY 20-26)

• Russia to pay its dues for using the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan; President Medvedev agrees to discuss reforms in the political system with the opposition parties; Russia supports Kofi Annan as a joint UN-Arab League envoy; Russia and China discuss ways to bring out an acceptable solution to the Syrian crisis; Russia to continue its anti-piracy missions in the Somalian waters; Drug seizures continue to rise in Russia; Gazprom’s pipeline projects to reduce Ukraine’s transit role; Russian President and his Iranian counterpart discuss the prevailing situation in Syria; Russia does not object to Serbia’s accession to the European Union; Russia’s response to the deployment of American global missile defence system will be efficient and asymmetrical

West Asia

Iran

• Top Israeli officials have openly accuses Iran of being responsible for attacks in India, Thailand and Georgia; Loyalists of Khamenei look set to triumph in Iran’s parliamentary elections; Ahmadinejad travelled to Pakistan and offered to boost bilateral trade

Iraq

• Suicide bomb killed 20 and wounded many in Iraqi Police Academy

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmier

• Sopore in North Kashmir observes complete shutdown in protest to youth’s killing; Congress Panch shot at and injured; Sopore encounter leaves a militant killed and a soldier injured; Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed in Kishtwar

North East India

• Two suspected militants killed in Assam; Centre waiting for written proposal from NDFB(R) for further formal talks; GNLA leader escapes; Maoists’ plan for North East comes in view; Former HNLC Chief held; Home Minister P. Chidambaram writes to ten Chief Ministers’s on NCTC; Mob attack at Deithor police station leads to injuries

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India votes against Syria’s Assad regime in UNGA; Mandate of panel of experts on Sudan sanctions extended; Security Council alarmed at malnutrition levels in Sudan; Security Council delegation visits Haiti; UN General Assembly President meets Indian PM; India discusses post-2020 climate regime with BASIC counterparts