COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Afghan security forces captured intelligence data pointing at the Haqqani network during a raid in Kabul; Afghan parliament passes a vote of no confidence in two of its most senior Afghan ministers

Pakistan

• Pakistan invites key Afghan leaders from political groupings drawn from the former Northern Alliance; A new agreement on NATO supplies signed between Pakistan and the US; US Commander General Allen meets Army Chief Kayani

East Asia

China

• Beijing sends warship to Turkey on a visit; Beijing opposes Washington’s statement on South China Sea; Beijing launches its largest patrol vessel; China and Indonesia set to start naval dialogue

Japan

• Japanese Ground SDF to participate with the US marines in Guam exercises; China condemns Japan over the latter’s latest Defense White Paper; Japan to provide Myanmar with $900 million to ease its debt to World Bank and the ADB

South Korea

• South Korea condemns Japan for its renewed claim over the Dokdo islets; South Korea to conduct military exercises near the Dokdo islands

North Korea

• North Korea reacts strongly to South Korea-US joint military exercises

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Turkmenistan aims to revitalize the Aral Sea coast; Uzbekistan moves to ban all foreign military bases on territory; Tajikistan begins troop withdrawal from Gorno-Badakhshan; Japan and Kazakhstan sign significant uranium and rare earth minerals deals; Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and China grows by 18.5%; The European bank for Reconstruction and Development to invest US$ 35 million in Tajik Trans Asia highway; Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover with CIS rises by 31.7%

Russia

• Russia ready to review UN mission format in Syria but insists it must stay; Russia’s three landing ships with marines to call at Syria’s Tartus port; Russia-UK seek to strengthen bilateral ties especially in the nuclear power sector field; President Putin signes a bill which regulates navigation on the Arctic route; President Putin: There was nothing wrong about the law which looks to impose a foreign-agent status on foreign-sponsored non-commercial organizations

West Asia

Yemen

• Al Qaeda bombing kills 40 in South Yemen

Saudi Arabia

• One Policeman and a Shiite protester die in a clash in Eastern Province

Lebanon

• Lebanese army chief rules out creation of buffer zone

Turkey

• Turkish military build-up continues along Syrian border; Turkish Foreign Minister holds talks with Iraqi Kurdish government

Syria

• Syrian opposition urges international community to take military action to end the continuing violence in Syria; Deputy Head of Syrian diplomatic mission in Nigeria defects; India abstains from vote on UN resolution on Syria

Africa

• Egypt, Tunisia and Libya issue "Cairo Declaration", discuss deeper cooperation among them; South Africa halts oil imports from Iran in June; Somalia’s constituent assembly endorses draft constitution; Italian oil major announces new gas discovery off Mozambique; Seven members of Iran’s Red Crescent kidnapped in Libya; South Africa wants extension of African Growth and Opportunity Act; Sudan, South Sudan reach an agreement on oil transportation fees; Ghana and Nigeria pledge to deepen bilateral ties

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Increase in India’s missiles’ range on the anvil; Military transport aircraft C-17 globe master-III will be used in tactical airlifts

International

• Russian media reports: Russian amphibious assault ships to dock in a Moscow-leased Syrian port; Polish Army plans to acquire up to 1,000 new tanks

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Militants carry out several grenade attacks across Valley; LeT militant killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara; Strike observed in Shopian town after alleged killing of youth

Northeast India

• Blast in Goalpara, Assam leaves an army man dead and six injured; Home Minister P. Chidambaram faces ire of riot affected people while visiting relief camps; Fresh incidents of killing in Chirang; Formal NSCN-Centre dialogue to happen soon; All Bodo Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) claims no involvement of radical group in the recent violence

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India abstains from UNGA resolution on Syria; Kofi Annan resigns as UN Special Envoy for Syria; All parties in Guinea-Bissau called upon to restore order; UN-AU peacekeeping mandate in Darfur extended; UNSC demands DRC’s renegade soldiers, M23 to cease their activities; Indian economist part of panel on global development agenda beyond 2015