COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Top American commander in Afghanistan replaced; Obama: Sending additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan was the hardest decision of my administration; UN Chief: Cooperative relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan is key to peace

Pakistan

• At least 200 Taliban militants killed in Swat; ISPR: 10 percent of Swat militants are foreign nationals; Government offers peace talks in exchange for Taliban giving up its arms

Nepal

• Uncertainties regarding political formation continues; CPN-Maoists to launch a nation wide agitation House stalemate continues, CPN-Maoists to launch nationwide agitation to restore civilian supremacy; Maoists resurrect 'parallel governments

East and SouthEast Asia

China

• CMC to closely monitor performance of its officer corps; Top Chinese advisor calls for increasing cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan; Foreign Minister Yang calls for consolidation of ‘political trust’ among SCO member countries

SouthEast Asia

• Thai PM meets foreign investors in Hong Kong to help restore investor confidence after massive opposition protests; Thai PM also urges Thaksin to return home to face the ‘consequences of his actions’

west Asia

Iran

• Iran warns of ‘negative consequences’ if Iraq continues its shelling of Kurdish villages; Italian Foreign Minister: Clinton has a “positive opinion” on the subject of participation of Iran at G8 Afghanistan talks in June

Iraq

• Five US soldiers killed as a colleague opens fire in Camp Liberty; 355 people killed in April, deadliest month since September 2008; EU to give 20 million euros as humanitarian aid to displaced Iraqis

MISSILES, SPACE, DEFENCE AND NUCLEAR REVIEW

Missiles and Space

• Agni-II to be tested on May 19

Defence Issue
National

• India to receive Akula-II by the end of 2009

• Lockheed Martin intends to outsource AGMS components to India

International

• US buys Su-27 fighters from Ukraine

• US Navy finalizes deal with GD on surface electronic warfare systems

• China could give fighter jets in exchange for oil

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

• Kazakhstan approves participation in Russian-led gas pipeline

• Russia warns of dangers of war over Artic oil and gas riches

• Pakistan Foreign Minister: Pakistan to get French nuclear technology

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Militants explore new infiltration routes

NorthEast Development

• Nine migrants killed in Manipur