COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

• Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha is new ISI Chief; Joint session of parliament called on October 8; the United States and Pakistan to work together to counter insurgency, says President Zardari

Sri Lanka

• Troops capture LTTE airstrip in Panikkankulam area; JHU calls for commission to probe INGO activities; CPI national secretary D. Raja: We will not allow any assistance to Sri Lankan Army from Indian side

East and SouthEast Asia

China

• Tibet Nationalities Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary; United Nations and China will co-organize a high-level meeting on climate change; President Hu Jintao has appointed four new ambassadors;

Myanmar

• China’s grip on Myanmar ‘cause for concern’

• Chinese dam incurs KIO wrath

West Asia

Iran

• IAEA insists Iran to assure the world for its secret nuclear programme; US think-tank to open in Tehran; French Foreign Minister warns of Israeli strike on Iran nuclear sites

Iraq

• Iraq purchases 12 new US-built reconnaissance planes to bolster surveillance; Iraq's presidency approves provincial elections law; Two US helicopters crashed in Baghdad; Sunni Arab groups obtain pay in Iraq

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu and Kashmir

• Farooq Abdullah: Delhi to be blamed for present turmoil in J&K

• Yasin Malik: Include Kashmiris in Indo-Pak dialogue process

• Curfew imposed in the entire Kashmir Valley to thwart separatists’ march

North East

• Serial blasts rocked Agartala, three killed and 120 wounded

• 305 ULFBV cadres surrender, NDFB gives up sovereignty demand

Maoist Insurgency

• Four CRPF personnel killed in Bastar landmine blast

Other Internal Security Development

• Bomb blasts kill 6, 80 injured in Gujarat, Maharashtra towns

• Private security agencies to ask government for intelligence duties