COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Taliban militants attack government offices in Nimroz, 13 killed including 9 militants; 850 US military personnel to train Afghan security forces as an interim measure; New Zealand PM meets Karzai; US House Armed Services Committee reviews Obama administration's counter-insurgency strategy; Abdullah Ahmadzai named new Chief Electoral Officer; CRS: China’s involvement in Afghanistan growing; UK provides six Russian-made MI-17 choppers to assist in border patrol; 66 die in flash floods

Pakistan

• Clinton warns Pak of ‘severe consequences’ if terror link to its soil is proved; Qureshi: Times Square conspiracy could be ‘retaliation’ from Taliban against US drone attacks; Gen. Petraeus: Times Square suspect was a ‘lone wolf’; Pak receives $1 billion from US as part of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF)

Bhutan

• Bhutan PM identifies waste management and agricultural sector as potential areas of cooperation with Malaysia; Bhutan to have nationwide broadband network by 2012; Nepal’s PM says Nepal-Bhutan relations are “excellent”; SAARC Development Fund launched

Maldives

• Report: Press freedom violations taking place in Maldives; Social Liberal Party leader: De-centralisation bill could jeopardize socio-economic fabric of society; Maldives and China business forum meeting takes place in Shanghai

Sri Lanka

• New Foreign Minister states that country’s foreign policies will reflect its history, culture, social and economic values; Reconciliation Commission set up; Colombo signs MOU with SCO

Myanmar
April 26 - May 02

• Myanmar to develop closer ties with SAARC countries; Myanmar authorities encourage formation of new pro-junta political parties ahead of general elections; EU says Myanmar’s challenges “can only be addressed through genuine dialogue between all stakeholders”; UDD urges the EU to look into the April 10 clash with government forces; Finland PM visits Malaysia; Malaysia and Australia to set up an Anti-Terrorism Committee; Bhutan to develop closer economic ties with Malaysia

East Asia

Japan

• China asserts that its survey ship acted legitimately when it opposed the activities of a Japanese Coast Guard vessel in the East China Sea; Japan re-starts a fast breeder nuclear reactor for first time since the reactor was shut down 14 years ago

Southeast Asia

• Thai PM proposes a five-point political roadmap to end political crisis; General elections in Thailand to be held on November 14; Red Shirts accept Abhisit’s roadmap but refrain from calling off street protests; Thai government reiterates that recent violence will not affect roadmap; Suu Kyi’s party dissolved under new election law; Malaysian Prime Minister visits Cambodia

West Asia

Iran

• Clinton at the NPT RevCon charges that Iran has violated NPT provisions; Mottaki invites UN Security Council members for dinner to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, US, UK, France and Russia do not send Ambassadors; Iran begins construction of 1,350 kms Chabahar-Zahedan-Mashhad railway project

Iraq

• Iraq’s votes recount process starts