COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Karzai meets with Obama and Clinton in Washington; US and Afghanistan reaffirm shared goals to achieve a "stable, strong and prosperous Afghanistan"; Obama supports Karzai’s efforts to reach out to moderate sections of Taliban; Over 50 Taliban militants killed in joint Afghan-NATO operations in Kunduz and Ghazni provinces; 11 civilians killed in a NATO raid in Nangarhar

Pakistan

• Holder: TTP responsible for the Times Square bombing bid; Clinton satisfied with Pakistan’s cooperation in Times Square investigations; Qureshi: Resumption of dialogue process an “important step forward in bilateral relations”; Baroness Warsi becomes the first women of Pakistani origin to be a UK cabinet minister; 64 people abducted near the border area of Kurram Agency and Hangu district

East Asia

China

• China, Australia pledge to work towards ensuring peace, stability and development of Asia-Pacific region; Defense Minister Liang says Cambodia is China’s good neighbor, friend and partner; Chinese Naval Escort Force intensifies training regimen in Gulf of Aden

Japan

• Foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea agree to ‘calmly follow’ on-going investigations into the sinking of South Korean vessel; Clinton to visit Japan on May 21; Hatoyama likely to meet Okinawa Governor to secure his support for base re-location

Southeast Asia

• Thai PM warns of legal action if UDD does not stop its protest rally; UDD wants the surrender of Deputy PM Thaugsuban, holding him responsible for the April 10 incident; Four people killed in political violence in the Philippines; US envoy Campbell arrives in Myanmar; India to invest in highways connecting India, Bangladesh and Myanmar; Malaysia and Germany to boost bilateral cooperation

West Asia

Iran

• William Hague says Iran’s behaviour “intolerable”; Brazilian President says he is optimistic of convincing Ahmadinejad to agree to a nuclear deal to prevent further sanctions; Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran injured in an attack by an Afghan national

Iraq

• Over 100 killed in series of attacks across Iraq even as political stalemate continues