Tariff Cut Plans to ASEAN Levels (February 19, 2007)
The government is reportedly planning to cut peak customs tariff from the present 12.5% to a possible 10% in the upcoming budget but senior functionaries are reportedly interested to drop the tariff to ASEAN levels of 6-7%.<More>

Pak Interested to Close Siachen (February 19, 2007)
Pakistan Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting acknowledged the futility of fighting in "one of the highest battlefields" where neither side "has gained anything" and indicated willingness to find closure to stalled talks
.<More>

Nobel Laureate Yunus in Politics (February 19, 2007)
Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and champion of poverty allieviation and sustainable development, announced plans to enter politics in Bangladesh to help the nation overcome the "terrible political leadership."<More>

BSF Wants No Habitation on Bangla Border (February 09, 2007)
The Border Security Force (BSF) has proposed a "no-habitation zone" of 150 yards along the long Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura so it can effectively manage it and stop illegal infiltration.<More>

China's African Safari, US Plans Military Center (February 08, 2007)
Abandoned by European colonists, used as pawns by the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War, and ignored for the last decade and a half, Africa nations are back in favor for engagement because of Chinese involvement in that continent.<More>

Pakistan, Turkey Initiative on W Asia (February 08, 2007)
Visiting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer reveled plans to work together to bring peace to the West Asia "and the Muslim world."<More>

U.S. Aid to Nepal to Continue (February 08, 2007)
The U.S. will continue to provide financial aid to the interim Nepali government even though it has accommodated the terrorists Maoists in the administration.<More>

19 Bangla Politicians Jailed (February 07, 2007)
The interim Bangladesh government arrested nineteen politicians and sent them to jail for a month on charges of corruption and anti-state activities.<More>

Indo-Maldives Cooperation on "Good Terms" (February 07, 2007)
Visiting Deputy Education Minister Abdul Mugsin Mohammed praised India's co-operation at "good terms" with his country.<More>

India, Bhutan Sign Revised Friendship Treaty (February 07, 2007)
India and Bhutan will sign an updated version of the 57-year old friendship treaty when King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk visits India on a six-day visit that will grant Thimpu more freedom in foreign policy and military procurement.<More>

India, China Set up Hotline (February 06, 2007)
When Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visits India next week, India and China have decided to set up a hotline between their foreign ministers as part of a roadmap to implement the 10-point action plan to boost strategic cooperation.<More>

Bhutto to Return? (February 06, 2007)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in a self-exile in the United Kingdom is reportedly planning to return to Pakistan in October or November of this year to challenge the army's rule.<More>

SLG Invites, TNA Declines (February 06, 2007)
The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse invited the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and later the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for talks on power sharing; but his peppered invitation was spurned by the TNA asking it to deal with the LTTE directly.<More>

Pak Mulls Emergency Option (February 05, 2007)
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is considering an option to postpone elections by declaring emergency.<More>

Jintao Travels to Africa Again (January 31 , 2007)
Chinese President Hu Jintao is traveling to Africa again that the African Development Bank (ADB) says is focused on trade and to strengthen bonds with ignored nations and population and making “Africa one of the major areas of attention.”<More>

SLG Criticized for Military Emphasis (January 31 , 2007)
As donor nations pledged large sums of money to help civil-war torn Sri Lanka, donor nations also criticized the government’s overemphasis on military option and widespread skepticism over the recent splitting of the Opposition for political gain.<More>

IPI Agreement Closer to Reality (January 31 , 2007)
As US-Iran relations nosedived over accusations of meddling over Iraq and Tehran’s nuclear program, India, Pakistan, and Iran seemed to have agreed on a price to transport natural gas to India over the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project.<More>

US Plans Large Afghan Package (January 29, 2007)
The US President George Bush is reportedly seeking Congressional approval for another USD 7-8 billion for security, reconstruction, and counter-offensive operations including training and policing operations against a resurgent Taliban.<More>

Karuna Group Destabilizing, SLG Colludes (January 25, 2007)
Annoyed by selective leaks of an internal document by the Sri Lankan Government (SLG), donor nations outed the report blaming the SLG-supported Karuna faction as a major destabilizing factor and the Human Rights Watch (HRW) also blamed the government for “willful blindness.”<More>

Iran Bars IAEA Inspectors, US Warns (January 24, 2007)
In an apparent retaliation against UN sanctions imposed last month on its controversial nuclear program, Iran barred 38 UN nuclear inspectors from entering the country and the US upped the ante saying that rapprochement with Iran was “not possible.”<More>

Nepal King Public Appearance (January 24, 2007)
Since being sidelined by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), Nepali King Gyanendra made his first appearance in connection with a Hindu festival Vasanta Panchami but government officials and politicians who traditionally the attend the festivities remained aloof.<More>

Personality-Neutral Relations with Iran (January 23, 2007)
In an act of militant defiance in response to the second US aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis into the Persian Gulf, Iran tested short range Zalzal and Fajr-5 missiles ostensibly to evaluate “defensive and fighting capabilities of the missiles.” <More>

SLG, LTTE Criticized for Child Soldiers (January 22, 2007)
As the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), helped by Israeli and Pakistani mercenaries, claimed success to take a key town in the East, a UN report has criticized the insurgent groups, the government, and their sponsored militia of abducted conscription of children.<More>

Bangla CEC Quits, Elections Cancelled (January 22, 2007)
Bangladesh’s controversial Chief Election Commission M.A. Aziz resigned citing a “rapidly changed” political landscape and visibly resigned President Iajuddin Ahmed accepted the resignation and called off the elections.<More>

Nepal Maoists Start Disarmament (January 20, 2007)
About 350 combatants including 150 women handed over their arms to UN officials as part of a deal that granted them a 1/3rd of Parliament seats and a Deputy Prime Minister post so they can work on elections in June.<More>

India-Sino Border Talks Resume (January 20, 2007)
Special Representatives of India and China resumed the border settlement talks into the 9th round but as usual refused to divulge details of deliberations but are apparently still working on the April 2005 “political parameters” and “guiding principles.”<More>

China Tries to Curb Export Growth (January 18, 2007)
Aiming to better strained relationship with the US and the EU over out-of-control trade surplus, Beijing is trying to adopt new polices to cut its export growth to avoid a potentially disastrous “political” problem.<More>

“Progress” in Indo-Pak Talks (January 17, 2007)
Urging analysts to take a “holistic view of relations with Pakistan,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh guardedly said the 3 year old peace process was making “progress” but acknowledged that it was “premature” to conclude to claim success. <More>

Maoist Join Nepali Government (January 17, 2007)
In a landmark event, Nepal’s Maoist insurgents gave up violence and joined the interim government and assumed “responsibility to conduct the elections for the constituent assembly” as part of a peace deal with mainstream political parties. <More>

ASEAN Terror & Economic Plans (January 16, 2007)
Anxious to remain competitive against China and India, Southeast nations met in Philippines created a rules-based foundation for cooperation on economic, political, and terrorism policies along the lines of the European Union, but disagreed on Myanmar. <More>

New Govt in Bangladesh (January 16, 2007)
In a dramatic move, bowing to international pressure President President Iajuddin Ahmed resigned his position of caretaker prime minister paving way for former Bangladesh central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed to take over the government.<More>

UN Withdraws Aid for Bangla Poll (January 11, 2007)
As tens of thousands of troops take up positions to stop the opposition blockade of a discredited poll on the 22nd, the United Nations said that it withdrawing assistance in the upcoming poll and that it was “concerned” about the future of democracy in that country.<More>

Israel-China Sign New Treaties (January 11, 2007)
Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Chinese Premier Web Jiabao signed three agreements covering cultural exchange, export of Israeli citrus fruit, and sale of water purification technology to China.<More>

Olmert Seeks China’s Help on Iran (January 10, 2007)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is visiting China and is expected to lobby Beijing to take a tougher stand against Tehran’s controversial nuclear program especially if the recent sanctions on Iran would not influence its behavior.<More>

Mush Wants Support to Fight Terror (January 09, 2007)
State-run television reported that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has called his nation to support his policy stopping militants from using the nation as recruitment ground for suicide members to be used by terrorist groups for attacks world-over.<More>

Bangladesh in Turmoil (January 08, 2007)
Bangladesh police fired tear gas and charged with batons on demonstrators in Dhaka to break up opposition blockades for the second day trying to force a delay in elections scheduled January 22.<More>

Bangla Polls Dubious (January 05, 2007)
After indicating their participation in the January 22 polls, the 14-party opposition led by former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina have now decided to boycott the elections alleging that it was “stage-managed.”<More>

UN Calls for Ceasefire in Lanka (January 05, 2007)
A top UN official appealed to the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop their fighting as the citizens “continue to suffer deeply” and the recent civilian death from SLG air attack is causing “deepest concern.”<More>

No SLMM in Combat Areas (January 03, 2007)
As the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) withdrew from combat areas in the North and East, the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) raid killed 15 civilians (including 4 children), wounded dozens, and destroyed all but 5 houses in Northern coast near Mannar.<More>

Diplomatic Curb in Pak (January 03, 2007)
Pakistan has instituted travel curbs on Indian diplomats where they need to seek advanced permission from authorities for travel to Murree (a hill station) and Rawalpindi (a twin city to Islamabad) but no official announcement has been made.<More>

Tehran Defiant on Sanctions (December 28, 2006)
For the first time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acknowledged its nuclear weapons program when dismissing the UNSC resolution imposing limited sanctions against Tehran as a “piece of torn paper” meant to “scare Iranians.”<More>

Indo-Pak MoU on Power Devolution (December 28, 2006)
India and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share and learn from experiences of both nations on devolution of power to grass-root levels hoping that these low-hanging fruits will pave way for lasting peace.<More>

Bangla Polls On (December 26, 2006)
After objecting bitterly about election planning irregularities and breach of Constitution, Awami League led 14-party opposition is reportedly decided to contest in parliamentary election scheduled January 22 next year.<More>

Iran Sanctions, Shaky Azeri Relations (December 25, 2006)
After inviting UNSC sanctions and losing civic level elections, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to upgrade his souring domestic popularity by escalating tirades against the West and called President Bush "the most hated person" in the world.<More>

Maoists Block Envoy Designate to India (December 25, 2006)
Nepali Maoists and political groups supporting them said that they will block Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s envoy designate for India, an obscure retired diminutive woman who is also a niece of the PM claiming that the decision was taken without consulting them.<More>

Talks with Afghan Taliban (December 23, 2006)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is reportedly ready for talks with the Taliban operating in his country hopeful of including them in governance but not the Pakistani counterpart but only if they terminate links with Pakistan as that nation is trying to “enslave” Afghanistan.<More>

Indo-Pak Joint Sir Creek Survey (December 23, 2006)
In the two days talks over Sri Creek beginning this weekend, India and Pakistan are working out a mechanism for the 2nd survey of Sir Creek targeted for completion next March to enable an easy and conflict free demarcation of the maritime zone.<More>

Indo-Sino Glacier Expedition (December 23, 2006)
For the very first time, India and China will jointly survey up to the sources of the Brahmaputra and Sutlej, which is the largest water reservoir in the world outside the Polar region, and collect data that could be used for modeling climatic changes over glaciers.<More>

Riots in Bangladesh (December 23, 2006)
The general strike called by the 14-party opposition led by Awami League (AL) trying to force electoral reforms turned violent with the army and police fighting running battles with civilians leaving 25 people wounded in Dhaka and 100 in other areas.<More>

No Shortcuts in Kashmir (December 21, 2006)
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf proposed a “four point solution” to resolve the Kashmir dispute that includes Indian troop withdrawal, self-governance for Kashmiris, joint supervision by the three sides, and maintaining current borders in exchange for giving up claim to Kashmir.<More>

Maoists Protest Envoy Nominations (December 21, 2006)
After reaching a landmark deal with the political parties that would essentially nullify any powers to King Gnanendra, albeit temporarily, Nepali Maoist guerrillas called for a nationwide strike to protest against the government’s nomination of new ambassadors to 13 foreign capitals.<More>

New King in Bhutan (December 21, 2006)
Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck stepped aside and made his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck the new ruler of the secluded mountainous nation inspiring hope that the new King will transform the nation into a parliamentary democracy.<More>

The Iran Problem for US (December 20, 2006)
As Tehran civic polls brought in moderate and reformist opponents of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s to power, US policy makers are increasingly concerned about developments and statements from Iran and especially about their nuclear program.<More>

4 Advisers Quit in Bangla (December 18, 2006)
Four members of Council of Advisers of President-cum-Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed resigned protesting that there was “no situation” that “warranted an army deployment” of the Army ahead of the general election.<More>