News and Analysis 21 October

Just one person taking action can inspire others to do the same.
~ Leslie C. Aguilar

• After two decades, Muslim officer to command Srinagar-based 15 Corps The best ever piece of news received by SAI on the affairs of the state. We have huge expectations but more than that there is a huge sense of optimism that things will be under control now. Our best wishes to Srinagar.

• 1,514 FIRs against Army personnel in J&K Over 100 Armymen including 48 officers have faced punitive action in cases related to human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir over the last two decades, Army said on Wednesday. ”As many as 1,514 FIRs have been registered against Army personnel for alleged human rights violations in the last 20 years of militancy”, Brigadier General Staff (BGS), Northern Command, Sanjay Verma said.

• Karachi city reels after 51 killed At least 51 people, including several political activists, have been killed and dozens more wounded since Saturday in Karachi, a sprawling port city of more than 16 million residents that is prone to political, ethnic and religious strife. Many killings in Karachi have been linked to gangs allegedly ontrolled by political parties.

• Strategic dialogue Dawn The strategic dialogue was created as a forum where Pakistan and the US could exchange ideas.

• The United States has said it fully expects Pakistan to carry out its pledges of cooperation in bringing the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice.

• United States hi-tech sanctions against India to go Obama is expected to announce the end of advanced nuclear technology sanctions against India when he arrives on his first state visit to the country in early November.

• Russian Advances in Central Eastern Europe – Helle Dale, Heritage Foundation: “What does the United States government do so as not to lose its strategic influence with a set of relatively new, but staunch, allies in Eastern Europe?

• CIA says Al-Qaeda in Pakistan hit hard in US attacks The CIA’s expanding operations in Pakistan have taken “a serious toll” on the Al-Qaeda network, said Leon Panetta.

• Welcome development Dawn Iran has a role in a final settlement of the Afghan issue despite US reservations about a nuclear Iran.

• India-Nepal Relations: A Perspective From Nepal‎ - Chiran Jung Thapa, Eurasia Review: “An Indian national with longstanding ties with Nepal recently remarked –’Indian policy in Nepal appears as if oceans separate the two countries. For a country that aspires to be a world power and a Security Council member, its public diplomacy and relationship capabilities remain infantile and its behaviour towards smaller neighbors juvenile.’ These sentiments resonate with Nepalese. … Of all the countries in the world, Nepal should have been India’s dearest and vice versa.”

• Myanmar Foreign media barred from covering Myanmar vote

• Palestinians Consider Shift in Strategy on Statehood The Palestinian leadership, despairing of attaining a negotiated agreement with Israel, is focusing on how to get international bodies to declare a Palestinian state.

• More Than a Million Ballots Thrown Out in Afghan Vote Afghanistan has released full preliminary results from last month’s parliamentary election, throwing out 20 percent of ballots because of fraud.

• In Afghanistan, the Exit Plan Starts With ‘If’ A must read

• India successfully develops advanced laser guided bomb

• Afghan president hopes success for peace process

• Rash of Killings Grips Pakistan’s Largest City (nytimes.com)
• Prosecution of armymen in 41 cases sought in Kashmir (topinews.com)
• “25 dead in fresh wave of violence in Karachi” and related posts (asianetindia.com)
• Pakistan: 4-Day Death Toll Rises to 51 in Karachi (abcnews.go.com)