COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• NATO Secretary General: NATO’s decision to scale back joint operations with Afghan security forces is a "prudent and temporary measure"; The last of the 33,000 US soldiers sent to Afghanistan nearly three years ago leaves the country; Twelve people killed including nine foreigners in a suicide attack in Kabul

Pakistan

• Report: Pakistan quietly conveys to United States that information on North Waziristan Operations not to be publicized; Hatf VII missile successfully test fired; Indian delegation led by the Indian commerce secretary visits Islamabad for talks; US sanctions against the Pakistan-based Haqqani network of militants come into force.

Bangladesh

• Partnership dialogue between Bangladesh and the US held; The US government handed over three metal shark ambulance boats to the Bangladesh Coast Guard; PM Sheikh Hasina leaves for United States to attend 67th UNGA

Sri Lanka

• President Rajapaksa visits India; Report: ISI attempts to recruit Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees as spy

Maldives

• Indian Defence Minister meets President Waheed; President left for the US to attend 67th UNGA; Maldives Climate Change Trust Fund was launched; Indian Credit is required to pay salary next month

East Asia

Southeast Asia

• Terror suspects arrested in Indonesia; Aung San Suu Kyi receives highest Congressional award during her visit to the United States; China- Vietnam trade rose 20.4 percent in 2012; Delhi Metro Rail Corporation bags contract in Indonesia; Bomb-blasts in Southern Thailand;

Japan

• Beijing finally puts an end to anti-Japan protests

South Korea

• South Korea’s new missile targets North Korea’s underground artillery bases

North Korea

• Inter-Korea relations turn sour as North Korea threaten military action against South Korea; Pyongyang to send its delegates to the upcoming Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue to be held in China

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• President Putin concludes visit to Kyrgyzstan; Belarus is looking for the establishment of joint venture companies in Turkmenistan; Asian Development Bank to invest US$1.6B in Kazakhstan’s economy; Russia’s Uzbekistan’s President Oslam Karimov is on a state visit to South Korea; RusHydro agreed to construct four hydropower plants in Kyrgyzstan

Russia

• Russia to form a commission to investigate the problems onboard the Vikramaditya; Russia to support Lahdar Brahimi’s mission in Syria; Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom signs a nuclear knowledge management agreement with IAEA; Azerbaijan to start buying Russian roubles this year; Russia plans to create civilian transport infrastructure at Manas in Kyrgyzstan; The US has reiterated its commitment to support civil society in Russia; Russia and South Africa sign an agreement on nuclear safety control; Capital outflow in Russia estimated to be US$ 52 billion; Russia ready to export Sukhoi fighters to Africa

West Asia

Syria

• Free Syrian Army moves command centre from Turkey to Syria

Lebanon

• Lebanon to reaffirm dissociation policy from the Syrian conflict

Turkey

• Turkey calls for Syrian national unity and territorial integrity

Yemen

• Parliament statement demands departure of US Marines

Bahrain

• Twenty Nine people arrested during a protest in Manama; Bahrain pledges to improve human rights record

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• IAF modernization plan envisages spending over Rs two lakh crore in the next 10 years; India successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Agni IV and Agni-III missiles

International

• North Korea threatens military retaliation against South Korea over the sea dispute

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Shutdown, protests rage in Kashmir against the anti-Islam film; Grenade explosion at Nagrota, Jammu leaves CRPF men injured; Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants arrested in South Kashmir; President to make his maiden visit to Kashmir; Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) divulges incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir under RTI

North East India

• Assam Government keen to have a Bangla consulate in the State; National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to hold talks with different bodies in Assam; Silchar-Lumding Railway line to be completed by 2013; Assam Government to publish White Paper on illegal migration; Banned insurgent group ask post-1951 outsiders to leave Manipur; Illegal Bangladeshis arrested in Manipur

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) News

• Union Home Minister’s visit to Maldives

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India to push for Security Council reforms in 67th General Assembly session; BASIC meets to discuss negotiating position for Doha climate talks; UN welcomes negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan; UNSC condemns bombings in Mogadishu; UNSC expresses concern over security situation in Mali; Security Council demands end to grave abuses against children in situations of armed conflict; Mandate of UN mission in Liberia extended