COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• At least nine Afghan police personnel killed in an insurgent attack in the southern province of Uruzgan; US to hand over prisons to Afghanistan

Pakistan

• Pakistan government appoints Lt Gen Zahir ul Islam as new chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI); Pakistan tests ballistic missile; Khar states options to end energy crisis available; Pakistan Taliban Deputy Head removed; Ahle Sunna wal Jammat banned by Pakistan

Bangladesh

• India will place the Mujib-Indira Treaty of 1974 in Parliament for discussion about its ratification; Bangladesh’s exports to India will cross $ 1 bn; Korea trains officials of Jatiya Sangsad on renewable energy

Srilanka

• US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC 19th sessions in Geneva; China, Pak, Russia and African states support Sri Lanka; India silent on the resolution; Japanese Envoy to Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka should implement the recommendation made by the LLRC; Attack on Indian Fishermen; Douglas Devananda interacts with the representative of Fisheries associations in Tamil Nadu; 4th Session of Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation; High-profile banking delegation visits Qatar; Sri Lanka is to obtain a US$ 278 million loan from China to extend the Southern coastal railway line; Japan to provide US$ 12.5 million grant assistance to Sri Lanka; Iran will continue to provide loan facilities for 1,000 rural electricity projects in Sri Lanka

Maldives

• India’s role appreciated by President Dr Mohamed Waheed, but criticised by other political parties; India-mediated cross-party peace talks halted; India offers to replace all police vehicles destroyed during the unrest; UK High commissioner to the Maldives and Sri Lanka: The UK recognizes states, not governments

East Asia

• China to stay on socialist path of development; China: Resume dialogue on Iran nuclear issue; China hopes positive progress from US- DPRK talks; China to provide $2m humanitarian aid to Syria; China enhancing military ties with Canada, France; Terrorism not to affect Sino-Pakistan ties; Hu congratulates Putin on election; Chinese FM Yang meets with Indian counterpart in New Delhi; China to further expand cross-border RMB businesses

Central Asia

• Iran to boost trade and investment with Tajikistan; Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan seeks governmental assurances; Gazprom prospects in Uzbekistan for hydrocarbons; Croatian government abolishes visa requirements for Kazakhs; Malaysian firm signs three-way deal to extract Kazakh hydrocarbons; Kyrgyzstan refuses to swap natural resources for Chinese railway construction; Kyrgyzstan contemplates joining international aid program

Russia

• Russia’s Central Election Commission officially declares Putin as the new President of Russia; US President Obama congratulates Putin on becoming the President; Opposition stages demonstrations in Moscow with a call for ‘Fair Elections’; Putin to continue dialogue with the opposition; Russia and the League of Arab States adopt a joint statement on the principles of crisis settlement in Syria; Italy’s Prime Minister calls for an early Russia-Italy Summit; Ukraine aims to reduce the dependence on Russian gas; Medvedev orders to check the legal validity of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev guilty verdicts; Foreign Ministers of Russia and the Gulf countries to meet in Cairo on March 10, 2012

West Asia

Iran

• UN nuclear inspectors allow visiting Parchin military site; Iran and 5+1 groups resume dialogues; Huge turn out in ninth Majlis election indicates people trust in system: Ayatollah Khamenei; Iran and India plan to hit $25 billion in annual bilateral trade in the next four years

Iraq

• Iraqi Vice President visits Tehran and discusses bilateral issues

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Sukhoi Squadron gets President's prestigious decoration and recognition; New chapter in bilateral cooperation between India and China

International

• Philippines to hold annual Balikatan military exercise with the United States; IISS Report: Asian defense spending is likely to exceed that of Europe, in nominal terms, during 2012

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Tension grips Rajouri district; Indefinite curfew imposed in Rajouri; PMO and MHA team visits Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir; Cop injured in attack

North East India

• Third term for Congress in Manipur; Naga People’s Front wins four seats in Manipur elections; New Congress Legislature Party leader to be elected soon in Manipur; Caretaker Chief Minister of Manipur O. Ibobi offers talks to militant outfits; Meghalaya Governor calls borders and GNLA are major concerns; Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) guerilla killed in Tripura; Centre mulls action against militants

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India calls for comprehensive strategy to address terrorism off Somalia’s coast; UNSC concerned about violence between Sudan and South Sudan; India votes against Syria’s expulsion from UNESCO