COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Outgoing US envoy to Afghanistan Crocker: American military will stay in Afghanistan for at least 10 years after the expected US withdrawal; Taliban attacks NATO tankers; Two NATO service men killed in attack in Southern Afghanistan.

Pakistan

• Pakistan-India Joint Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs discusses modalities for strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel arrangements across the Line of Control; President Obama announces new US envoys to Afghanistan and Pakistan; Pakistan and Iran to form JWG on gas pipeline project; ISI Chief Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam to visit the United States to resume talks on drone strikes

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh signs contracts for 12 projects worth $654.71 million with India; A 10-day Vital Infrastructure Security training course, held by the US government in Bangladesh; US Senate Report: Two Bangladesh Banks are involved in terrorist financing; PM Hasina: 50 million poor people had been uplifted to the middle class group; ICAO drops Bangladesh from the list of countries with unsafe civil aviation systems

Sri Lanka

• Presence of Sri Lankan Defence personnel sparked protest in Tamil Nadu; Indian Naval ship visits Trincomalee; IMF approves a final disbursement of $415 million to Sri Lanka

Maldives

• High level Turkmen delegation met President Waheed; Maldives opens its first embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE; EU expresses concern about escalating political tension in Maldives

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Anti-China protests in Vietnam; China approves deployment of military garrison in West Philippine Sea; India- Singapore to share information on tax evaders; Myanmar President visits Thailand; Indonesia offers to mediate in the South China Sea dispute

China

• ASEAN’ six-point statement on the South China Sea issue are in line with China's ever-lasting will of turning the disputed waters into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation; Beijing announces that it will cooperate with ASEAN; Development plan for minority regions announced; China angry with Moscow over vessel attack; Hu Jinato pledges aid to African nations; Hu meets Niger President; China annoyed with Taiwan-US official’s meetings

Japan

• Japan to cooperate with Vietnam on maritime security and chemical substance management; Japan to dispatch MSDF minesweeping unit to join drill in the Persian Gulf

South Korea

• South Korea proposes to hold talks with North Korea

North Korea

• North Korea to reconsider its nuclear issue

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Border guards of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan exchange gunfire across border; Turkish firm to construct 60 power stations in Turkmenistan; Kyrgyzstan grapples with looming feed shortage; Taliban destroys 22 NATO fuel tankers moving from Uzbekistan; Iran, Turkmenistan look to expand trade to $10B; Massive hydrocarbon reserves discovered in Tajikistan; Russia and Tajikistan have agreed upon a tentative deal on the military base issue; British military delegation visits Uzbekistan to discuss terms for withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan through Uzbekistan

Russia

• President Putin discusses the developments with US President Oabma; Russia to vote against resolution on Syria if it ignores Geneva agreements; Russia vetoes UNSC resolution on Syria; Venezuela interested in buying Russian Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets from Russia; South Korea’s Finance Minister: South Korea to step up efforts to expand economic, political and diplomatic ties with Russia; Russian upper house of parliament ratifies WTO entry protocol; President Putin created an Economic Council to prepare proposals and implementation methods for Russia’s socioeconomic policy; Russia to spend nearly USD 10 bln on foreign debt by 2015; US House of Representatives bans Pentagon cooperation with Rosoboronexport; Italian Prime Minister visits to Moscow

Africa

• AU Commission elects its first female chairperson; AU Summit pushes for democracy and crisis resolution; Liberia argues drugs and arms fueling Africa’s unrest; China announces $ 20 billion in credit for Africa; Moderates beat Muslim Brotherhood in Libyan election; South Sudan suspends talks with Sudan amid fresh air strikes; Western companies to gain from East Africa Gas exports; U.S. war on drugs expands to Africa

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Shivalik class stealth frigate INS Sahyadri commissioned

International

• Worldwide defense sales fell 3.3 percent in 2011; U.S. military fighter jet crashed into the sea off northern Japan

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir
(JULY 9-15)

• Planning Commission approves Rs 7300 cr plan for JK; Air Force Chief visits Kashmir; Bodies of two army soldiers recovered; Hizbul commander killed in North Kashmir

(July 16-22)

• Grenade fired at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar; Former Hizb-e-Islami (HeI) commander arrested

Northeast India
(JULY 9-15)

• ULFA demand note to Parliamentary Secretary; Nagaland bandh affects supplies to Manipur; Centre extends truce with Dima Halam Daogah (DHD); Demand for Inner Line Permit in Manipur intensifies; Three Bodo militants killed in Goalpara; Twelve hour shutdown cripples life in Tripura; Indefinite bandh on National Highway; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) hideout busted in Garo Hills

(July 16-22)

• At least nine persons dead in Kokrajhar district, curfew imposed; Editor in chief of News Live Channel resigns in lieu to the molestation case in Assam; Centre rules out Bodoland demand; Northeast separatist leader arrested in New Delhi; 72 ultras surrender in Manipur; Arunachal media houses to shut down

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• UN Security Council fails to pass resolution on Syria; Mandate of UN mission in Syria and Cyprus extended; Attacks in DRC condemned; India wants treaty on arms trade to be based on consensus; UNSC asks Israel and Lebanon to move forward on all outstanding issues