Country Review

South Asia

Afghanistan

• Independent Election Commission announces election results, Karzai gets 54.6 per cent of votes while Dr. Abdullah secures 27.8 per cent, results not final until approved by UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission

Pakistan

• Pak Interior Minister: Anti Terrorism Court will prosecute Mumbai suspects; Zardari: Musharraf granted safe exit on the intervention of international powers with interests in South Asia; Zardari: 36 MoUs signed with China in one year; Pak US Ambassador

EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

Japan

• Hatoyama sworn in as PM; Foreign Minister Okada meets US official Kurt Campbell; Okada orders thorough investigation into alleged secret pacts between Japan and the US; JASDF successfully participates in PAC-3 surface-to-air interception system in New M

SouthEast Asia

• Thai PM not in favour of amending constitution to provide amnesty for corrupt politicians; 22 Philippines sailors captured 5 months ago released by Somali pirates, 20 more in captivity; Indonesia and the US to cooperate in health sector

West Asia

Iran

• Nuclear talks to begin from October 1; Statement issued after the annual al-Quds Day march warns Israel against undertaking “any new adventurism”; Former President Khatami reportedly injured in anti-government protests

Iraq

• Shoe-thrower released from jail, Qadhafi to bestow his country’s highest civilian honour in him, Emir of Qatar to gift a golden horse; US commander in Iraq expresses concerns about withdrawal of American troops

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Chidambaram: Pak-based terror outfits continuing to plot attacks against India; J&K government: China taking Indian land by inches, not yards; Mirwaiz urges central government to initiate talks with separatists

NorthEast Development

• 373 insurgents lay down arms in Assam; Car bomb defused at Raj Bhavan complex in Imphal

Maoist Insurgency

• 30 Maoists and six policemen killed in Chhattisgarh; Chidambaram: Maoists tie up with insurgent outfits of the Northeast