COUNTRY REVIEW

Iraq

• Iraqi government dismisses over 1,000 security force personnel for poor performance during Basra operations; Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad supports Basra security drive against Mahdi militias; Rice in Baghdad, supports Maliki’s efforts

China

• Beijing launches a $81 million project to preserve historical and cultural relics in Tibet; Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway construction started; 30th anniversary of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship marked

Japan

• Zenkoji declines to serve as starting point of Olympics torch relay; PM Fukuda and South Korean President agree to cooperate on a range of issues

US ELECTION REVIEW

• Clinton and Obama vow to get tough with China on its undervalued currency; McCain presents a comprehensive view of his future economic policies

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Abducted Pakistani Ambassador appears on a video shown on Al Arabiya television; Karzai condemns suicide attack in Zaranj, southwestern Afghanistan; Civil rights group criticizes US use of torture on Afghan prisoners in 2003

Pakistan

• Judiciary to be restored in the current session of National Assembly; Talks between PPP and MQM; Gen. Musharraf asks China and Russia to help in stabilization of Afghanistan

Nepal

• Prachanda urges the SPA to work in consensus; US removes Maoists from the terror watch list

Bhutan

• Jigmi Thinley elected as Prime Minister; India lifts ban on import of rice brands

Sri Lanka

• EU criticizes Colombo for its military action against the LTTE

PAKISTAN-OCUPIED KASHMIR REVIEW

• Chairman of the Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance detained; Federal Minister gives assurance for development of the POK region

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir Development

• Kashmiris asked to stay away from mainstream political rallies; Mufti favours Pak currency in Kashmir

NorthEast Insurgency

• Tripura minister resigns over rebel nexus; Talks between government and NSCN(IM) held

Maoist Insurgency

• Central government opposes petition seeking disbanding of Salwa Judum

NUCLEAR REVIEW

India

• US reiterates commitment to Indo-US nuclear deal; Kakodkar: Safeguards agreement not final

Iran

• Meeting between Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation chief and ElBaradei postponed; Hillary calls for direct talks with Iran; Barack Obama says preventing Iran from acquiring nukes will his be top priority

North Korea

• North Korea to submit list of nuclear programs and materials by April end; Verification mechanism to be put in place under the Six-Party framework; Bush demands declaration from Pyongyang

Pakistan

• Pak PM: Pakistan has effective nuclear command and control structure; Pakistan tests Hatf-VI (Shaheen-II)

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

TAPI Pipeline

• Deora: TAPI pipeline talks to be held in Islamabad along with discussion on IPI

Exploration and Production

• Potentially large reserves of oil found in southeastern Brazil

Oil Prices

• Oil prices reach $114-a-barrel

Agreement and Co-Operations

• OVL short-listed to bid for contracts in Iraq; Greater cooperation in the oil and gas sector with Brazil and Saudi Arabia in store