COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Aid groups: Not able to operate due to rising violence; al-Qaeda commander killed in US air strike; Australia criticises NATO members for “underwhelming” response

Pakistan

• CIA: Links between the ISI and Taliban intensified; Gilani in US; Violent incidents across country; Indo-Pak peace process to continue

Nepal

• Dr. Yadav invites CPN-Maoist to form the government; Delays in government formation; Madhav Nepal suggests Ram Bahadur Thapa as Prime Minister; PLA to stage agitation if their demands not met

Bangladesh

• High Court declares as valid election schedule for August 4; AL insists upazila elections cannot be held ahead of parliamentary polls; Chief Adviser: Process on for the release of BNP Chairperson; Foreign Adviser urges SAARC to become more effective

SouthEast and East Asia

Myanmar

• Bush signs Burma JADE Act; Bush: Myanmar’s neighbours preventing proper implementation of sanctions; Ethnic Kachins form umbrella group to explore possibility of forming a political party

China

• Taiwan’s Defence Minister urges US to approve a $11bn arms package; Defence Minister: PLA to expand cooperation with militaries across the world; Bush expresses gratitude to the Chinese government and IOC for inviting him for Olympics

Japan

• PM Fukuda terms failure of WTO talks “extremely regrettable”; South Korean PM visits Dokdo Islands

West Asia

Iraq

• Bush: Iraqi security situation has improved; Operation launched in Diyala against al-Qaeda; 61 people killed in blasts and clashes; Iraqi officials say pact with America is near; IOC lifts Iraq ban

Iran

• Ahmadinejad: Tehran to respond in a positive way if US adopts a genuinely new approach; Ahmadinejad holds talks with EAM Pranab Mukherjee; Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister requests the US not to go soft on Iran

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Protests continue unabated in Jammu region

Maoist Insurgency

• Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee: West Bengal not to ban Maoists

NorthEast Insurgency

• 32 militants lay down arms in Assam; Five militants killed in factional clash in Nagaland

Other Internal Security Development

• Top LTTE cadre arrested in Chennai

NUCLEAR REVIEW

India

• IAEA Board of Governors approve the India-specific safeguards agreement; Deal moves over to NSG; NSG to meet on August 21

Iran

• Olli Heinonen to visit Tehran for talks; Iran ready to respond to incentive package presented by the West

North Korea

• IAEA asked to play a more important role in the North Korean denuclearisation process; US and South Korean Presidents jointly push Pyongyang to agree on a verification plan

ENERGY SECURITY REVIEW

GeoPolitics

• OPEC: Energy supplies at stake if Iran is attacked

Exploration

• ONGC to invest $3 b in KG basin exploration

• Rs.51,577-cr. APDRP scheme approved for power sector reforms

Aquisition

• British Energy to be acquired by French Rival